Court Observer Form

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     ___________________________      ___________________________          __________________

_{Name of Observer                                 Location of Court/Municipal? Superior?                                      Date}

      1. What kind of case are you watching?  ___Civil  ___Small Claims  ___Criminal      Is there a Jury?  ___Yes  ___No

      2.  How do you react to the courtroom scene?  ___Too big and Impersonal  ___Just as it should be  ___Just about what you expected    Explain:

     3.  How do you react to the people?  On a scale of 1-5 (5 is best) rate the appearance of                            /fairness/competence/attention to the proceedings of:

                             Comment briefly on your answers:

     4. How do you rate the proceedings (what you see and hear happening) are they:  ___easy to understand?  or     ___difficult to understand?  Explain:

     5.  Who do you think will win the case. Plaintiff (or Prosecution) or Defense?  _____________________________ 

     6.  Who do you think should win the case: Plaintiff (or Prosecution) or Defense?_________________________Why?

     7.  How many of your expectations and impressions of the Defense Attorney proceedings were influenced by watching television, and how did these expectations differ from what you actually saw?

     8.  What suggestions do you have that would help improve the administration of justice as you saw it displayed in court today? Be creative; the system is good, but far from perfect.

     9.  On another sheet of paper describe your visit and your reactions to what you saw and heard. How did you feel about what you saw'? What did you think about what you saw?