1. Dynamics Of Courthouse Justice
Chapter Five

2. Courthouse Actors Lawyers: Court Support Staff: Prosecutor
Public Defender
Private Defense Attorney
Judge
Law clerk
Court Support Staff:
Clerk of Court
Court Reporter
Secretary
Translator
Court Administrator

3. Other Courthouse Actors
Law Enforcement:
Court Security Staff
Sheriff’s Deputy
Bailiff
Corrections:
Probation Officer
Pretrial Services
Drug Rehabilitation Programs
Public
Bail Agent
Newspaper Reporter
Defendant
Victim
Witness
Jurors
Rape Crises Center
Child Advocate
Court watchers
Victim/Witness Assistance

4. Who Manages the Courts? Job varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction
Most common variation include:
Clerks of Court
Chief Judges
Court Administrators

5. Clerk of Court Responsibilities:
Docketing (Scheduling) cases
Collecting fees
Overseeing Jury Selection
Maintaining court records
Most operate semi-autonomously from the judge

6. Assembly-Line Justice
The operation of any segment of the criminal justice system with such speed and impersonality that defendants are treated as objects to be processed rather than as as individuals.
This is due to the disparity between the number of cases vs the number of judges and the number of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and probation officers.
Mass-production techniques are utilized.

7. Discretion
The lawful ability of an agent of government to exercise choice in making a decisions.
Three sub-components:
Legal Judgments
Policy Priorities
Personal Philosophies

8. Legal Judgments Examples:
Prosecutor decides whether or not to file criminal charges
Prosecutor decides which charge(s) to file
Prosecution decides to utilize pre-trial diversion or probation

9. The Courtroom Workgroup
Mutual Interdependence
Shared Decision Making
Socialization
Normal Crimes
Rewards and Sanctions
Variability

10. Delays in Court
Delay: abnormal or unacceptable time lapses in the processing of cases.
The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends that all felony cases should reach disposition within one year of filing.
Court delay jeopardizes the 6th Amendment.
Number of states have enacted speedy trial laws

11. Speedy Trial Issues Sixth Amendment Speedy Trial Act of 1974 (Federal)
Right to a speedy trial.
Speedy Trial Act of 1974 (Federal)
30 days from arrest to arraignment
70 days form indictment to trial
Barker v. Wingo
The right to a speedy trial is relative, not absolute.