Courtroom 62: Trial Case

Today, I traveled once again to the court house downtown to complete my assignment on the trial case. My classmates and I arrived at the courthouse and examined different courtrooms we could possibly sit-in on. Nearly all the court rooms we checked were locked. It wasn’t until we were on the fourth floor when one of my classmates entered a judges chambers did we learn that there would not be a trial until 1:30. So to pass the time we took a journey to Gilligan’s Sports Bar Restaurant to have lunch and a drink.

The time flew by almost instantly and we were back at the courthouse going through metal detectors once again. We voyaged to the sixth floor to courtroom 62 which was nearly empty upon our arrival. There were more cops and lawyers then people attending. We quickly snuck into the back row because I was unaware there was a no shorts policy and didn’t want to be removed from the courtroom. The two gentlemen in the row in front us were engaged in a whisper conversation that was so loud we had to move closer to be able to hear any conversations from the judge and the lawyers. The first case was very quick and very brief. It involved one of the gentlemen that were talking in front of us. I still don’t recall what he was there for, only that the trial had been rescheduled for a later time. The second case was just as short. A woman who was supposed to be at the trail was in Japan. The judge rescheduled and moved on.

The third case involved the only man in an orange jail jump-suit in the courtroom. He was still in hand-cuffs and shackles when he entered the courtroom and during the entire length of his trial. He stood very tall and looked way beyond his actual age, 16. The judge talked to attorneys, the officer involved with the case, and then to the defendants grandmother who was in the courtroom. Apparently, the young man has had many felonies and misdemeanors already on his record and was also on probation. After an argument occurred with his grandmother he ran away, which eventually lead to him running from officers when he was out at night. He was outside his house at an hour past his probation officers request. The grandmother cried throughout the entire case; she is the legal guardian of this young man. Eventually, the judge decided he had no choice but to put the young man back in jail.

The final case was the longest of them all. The defendant, Mr. Rubio, was there due to a knife that was found on a probation random check of his house. There were several witnesses in this case including several probation officers and supposedly his son and wife. The plaintiff and defendant lawyers asked all of the probation officers several questions to put the case in a clear light; here it is as far as I know: Mr. Rubio was on probation and had not failed any alcohol or drug related tests. When probation officers came to his house one day and searched his house, Mr. Rubio (according to a probation officer on the scene) smelled of alcohol and his eyes were blood-shot red. When searching his room they came across a knife that was later identified as a scuba knife. Mr. Rubio was arrested for having possession of the weapon which was a violation of his probation. Mr. Rubio’s attorney was VERY VERY GOOD in my opinion. Even though the facts were against him he still came off believable and asked many frequent short questions. Unfortunately, we had to leave before the case concluded, but I really wish I could have stayed. This case was lengthy, yes, but very interesting. It was like watching a suspenseful movie.