log 2

May 14, 2002

Today I wasn’t with the Judge as much, but rather with the Bailiffs. I had no idea there could possibly be so many bailiffs. I think I met three of them yesterday, but I definitely didn’t catch their names. Once again, the morning was filled with arraignments. I finally asked what an arraignment was. An arraignment is not a trial, but allows the judge to sentence a person right off the bat unless they plead not guilty. If a person pleads guilty or no contest to the charges, they waive their rights to a trial, and are usually found guilty by the Judge. He then may sentence them. However, if they plead not guilty, the person must schedule a pre-trial with the Judge’s secretary, whom I met yesterday. Her name is Sarellen.

At any rate, the bailiffs stay in the court while it’s in session and have an office at all other times. I met Ron G. a second time today. He apparently is retired, but comes in for about two days a week, therefore being part time as well, thus the confusion regarding my on-site coordinator. He sat in the bailiff’s box today, which is to the right of the judge, and allowed me to sit beside him. Instead of typing everything that goes on in the courtroom, the Municipal Court has a recorder that is hooked up to each microphone. The bailiff (Ron G. in today’s case) is in charge of pressing record when the court is on the record, and stopping it at all other times. He also has a notebook and records the track number of the tape and which arraignment/trial was held during the numbers. This way someone can go back and review what was said in a certain case without searching the entire tape.

The other bailiffs (Don, Bob, Jeff) are in charge of the immobilization of vehicles. I had no idea what their job was before today. I’m not sure whether this task is assigned to the bailiffs only in our court, or whether it’s common for municipal courts. They basically are in charge of the paper work involved when an automobile is held by a tow company for the court, as well as those cars which are immobilized by a “club” at a person’s residence.

After lunch I spent a little time with the clerks, filing traffic and criminal cases. Carla quickly showed me how the case numbers work and where to file. I get the feeling they really don’t like to do it, but I’m perfectly willing to help.

When court was over for the day, Bob took me into the jail area to show me around. Apparently our jail is a five day facility, which means no one can be held for over five days. He showed me the temporary holding cells, the jail office, the overnight cells, the padded room, and the intox room. I didn’t even know they actually had a padded room, let alone an intox room. The latter is pretty much a cement room with a drain in the middle. It allows people who come in on DUI’s to throw up and whatnot, because it can be easily sprayed down.

I was also shown an alarm under the bailiff’s desk. If there is trouble in the courtroom, the bailiff sitting in the box simply kicks it to alert the police and court. (I was warned not to kick it as I sat with the bailiff…) I was also told that the bailiff sitting in the box (apparently they take turns) is in charge of security. That bailiff is the only person facing the entire courtroom to see if there’s trouble… every other bailiff, court officer, and whomever else is in the courtroom, is facing the judge.

8:00am – 11:30am 12:30pm – 3:15pm 6.25 hours