- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,495
Has anyone ever sat in the public gallery to watch a trial?
Is it easy to do?
Is it easy to do?
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[Misc] Watching trials (lewes crown court)
- Thread starter jcdenton08
- Start date
Not done it myself but I know some who have and I did JS at Lewes - the gallery was maybe half full at most on any given day, some days there was virtually no-one there. I believe the vast majority of trials are open to the public, you can simply turn up (only likely to be restrictions if the session is very sensitive - say involving minors giving evidence for example). Cases are listed so you can choose what you want to watch
Don't say anything controversial if you do go - you never know who's sat in there. If you whisper 'he definitely looks like a nonce to me' to the bloke sat next you, it's bound to be his brother/dad/best mate or something, and you'll also risk getting done for contempt of court.
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AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
Anything to confess!
If Its a public gallery you have the right to walk in but be advised, give them a call first.
If Its a public gallery you have the right to walk in but be advised, give them a call first.
British Bulldog
The great escape
- Feb 6, 2006
- 10,985
Did you ever do knitting in France in a previous life by any chance?
I spent a couple of days watching trials in Brighton a few years. Virtually every case was to do with drugs. People were robbing to feed a habit, shoplifting to feed a habit, gang fights involving drugs. If as a nation this problem could be sorted out then this country would change so much for the better.
Agreed. Get legalisation in place and a lot of these problems go away
el punal
Well-known member
A few years ago I went to Southampton’s Combined Courts to observe proceedings. When I went to ‘reception’ the dear old lady clerk advised me to go into Court 3.
“ You’ll like it there,” she said, “all the juicy cases as they’ve been held on remand. Enjoy yourself, love!”
She was right and I did.
“ You’ll like it there,” she said, “all the juicy cases as they’ve been held on remand. Enjoy yourself, love!”
She was right and I did.
- Jul 7, 2003
- 48,298
Magistrates court. Mostly shoplifters, criminal damage, possession of drugs, minor assaults and driving offences.
Crown court will probably be more interesting cases. I’d echo what the previous posters have said: anyone can go in, but you’ll often have families of defendants sat there in the public gallery, so be discreet.
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JamesAndTheGiantHead
Well-known member
I sat in on a few trials at Worthing magistrates as a student. I always called ahead to ask if they were open trials, but I didn’t have to book.
One of the defendants fell asleep in the box mid trial and proceeded to piss themselves
One of the defendants fell asleep in the box mid trial and proceeded to piss themselves
Did JS in 2016. Two trials, nowt to with drugs. A sexual assault, and group GBH.
I've been loads of times to court. It was a great way to spend the day when we were students. Sat through a trial at Lewes of a bloke found guilty of raping a baby - that was a traumatic experience.
The former Mrs G was a barrister so I went a couple of times to see her in action
The former Mrs G was a barrister so I went a couple of times to see her in action
I loved JS. The first case was a rape trial - the CPS barrister was, I'm sure, some form of Barrister superstar in the making. The way he utterly dismantled the defendant, piece by piece, over about 4 days of cross-examination was incredible, it really was. The defendant's barrister was a total joke by comparison.
alfredmizen
Banned
- Mar 11, 2015
- 6,342
got to ask why on earth would you want to sit through the trial involving the baby ?
Thankfully I have never been chosen for Jury Service, as a self employed sole trader I'm glad really. I could end up losing money and more importantly customers.
I could probably cope with a few days or a week, but a 2 to 3 weeks or more wouldn't be great.
There is something wrong with the system if what you say is happening.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Yes, it was part of my training when I worked for the CPS.
Raleigh Chopper
New member
I went into The Old Bailey once, never again.
I asked which court I should go to and once I was in I couldn't get out for some time
It was a child sex case and the little girl was giving evidence.
The defendant, during a break,was moved behind an open door and was sitting there giving wanchor signs to the gallery.
Horrible it was.
I asked which court I should go to and once I was in I couldn't get out for some time
It was a child sex case and the little girl was giving evidence.
The defendant, during a break,was moved behind an open door and was sitting there giving wanchor signs to the gallery.
Horrible it was.
The prosecution barristers, in the two cases where I served on a Jury, were also class acts. Obviously highly intelligent, great orators, systematically taking apart the lies, whilst playing to the jury.
I served with a couple of 'Hang-em' types, but they weren't allowed to dominate or speed things up in the slightest. The more cerebral members managed it fairly.