The Courts and Courtroom Actors
There are different actors in the courtroom, and each has a specific role in how a trial or session will progress. There are also differences between the federal and state courts that are important to understand. In this assignment, you will outline details about the actors in the courtroom and federal and state courts. You will gain an understanding of the courts that will prepare you to participate in the courtroom process.
Imagine you are a court administrator for the local superior court. You have been asked to speak to a high school civics class. Specifically, the teacher would like you to provide a general overview of federal and state courts and discuss the primary actors in each court system.
Create an 8- to 10-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation in which you:
Identify actors in the courtroom.
Who are the actors in federal courts and state courts? (Include actors the two courts have incommon and any actors who are different.)
What are their responsibilities?
Why is it important for these responsibilities to be fulfilled adequately? (Consider the effect of overzealousness compared to the effect of underperformance.)
Identify what is different between these actors in federal courts from the same actors in the state courts.
Judges
Defense attorneys
Prosecutors
Juries
Contrast federal and state (your state or the state you’re from) courts (consider creating a diagram/chart/table).
Structure
Jurisdiction
Roles of each court
Case types
Sample Solution
The Courts and Courtroom Actors
Key figures in a courtroom trial are the judge, a court reporter (in superior court), a clerk, and a bailiff. Other central people are the attorneys, the plaintiff, the defendant, witnesses, court interpreters, and jurors. At the beginning of a federal criminal case, the principle actors are the U.S. attorney (the prosecutor) and the grand jury. The U.S. attorney represents the United States in most court proceedings, including all criminal prosecutions. Perhaps the most distinguishing and most frequently cited difference between state and federal courts is how punishment is levied. Individuals convicted of crimes by state or local prosecutors can face a range of penalties, as well as incarceration in a state prison. While there are some federal crimes which may only result in federal probation and/or fines, most individuals convicted in federal court are subjected to federal sentencing guidelines.
