Question

Observe a live court proceeding via live streaming video. For this project, you will need to observe a civil (NOT A CRIMINAL) court proceeding and report the following: 1. Observe a state or federal court proceeding; 2. After you watch the court proceeding, report your observations and be able to answer the following: a. What was the name of the court you visited? b. What is the name of the judge who presided over the case? c. What was the name of the case you observed and be able to name the Plaintiff(s) and the Defendant(s)? d. What is the case number? e. Provide the date, time and nature of the proceeding you observed

Answer 1

To observe a live court proceeding for a civil case, one could attend a local courthouse or access a live stream. The observer should note the courtroom's layout and the roles of participants, while considering how language and societal structures reflect within the proceedings. Civil proceedings differ from criminal cases and can occur at both state and federal levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

To observe a live court proceeding and report on it, you could either visit a local courthouse or view a proceeding via live streaming video, if available. This observation task is related to social studies and more specifically to the study of the legal system within the context of social structures and authority. While observing the court proceeding, it is essential to note the structural layout and participant roles within the courtroom, such as the judge, plaintiffs, defendants, and jurors. Additionally, understand how the courtroom setup reflects the power dynamics and the enactment of authority.

During your observation, it can be enlightening to consider how linguistic anthropology would approach the language and communication observed in court, including the impact of race and ethnicity. Despite popular media often depicting courtroom drama, actual court procedures are typically more procedural and less theatrical. Civil court proceedings, which handle private legal disputes, unfold with a series of events such as opening arguments, witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and closing arguments before moving to jury deliberation, if a jury is present.

Understanding the difference between civil law and criminal law is crucial. Civil law involves cases between private parties and does not involve criminal charges, while criminal law deals with offenses against the government's laws. It's important to note that the U.S. judicial system comprises both federal courts and state courts, each with its respective jurisdiction. Federal courts handle cases involving federal matters, and state courts usually handle cases involving state laws, although there are exceptions and overlap.