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Scheduling a Court Tour
What to Expect on a Court Tour
Courthouse Etiquette
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The Superior Court of the State of
California, County of Kings is pleased to provide Court Tours for students
in the Kings County area. The tours provide a unique opportunity for
students to view the inner workings of the justice system, and includes
viewing a Court proceeding and speaking with a Judicial Officer.
Court Tours are available for students in
sixth grade and above, by reservation only. Tours are held on Tuesdays and
Thursdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Reservations can be made by calling
the Court Tours Coordinator at (559) 582-1010, x5002. Court Tour groups
must be limited in size to no more than 30 students at a time with an
appropriate number of adult supervisors. Due to the comprehensiveness of
the tour, Court calendars, and limited Court resources, usually only one
group can be scheduled each day.
The Tour begins with students and
faculty/parents meeting with the Court Tours Coordinator in front of the
Courthouse. The students pass through the metal detector and security
checkpoint at the entrance to the Courthouse, emphasizing for the students
the importance of intense security in the Court system.
Students are taken to the Jury Assembly
area of the Court to be introduced to Jury Services. This affords the
students an opportunity to understand what they can expect should they be
called to jury duty once they are 18 years of age.
The students will next proceed to the
Case Processing Divisions, Information Technology and then to one of six
courtrooms to meet with one of the Court's Judicial Officers. The Judge
may choose to meet with the students in the actual courtroom or in his/her
chambers, and will generally explain the overall duties and
responsibilities of a Judicial Officer. As time permits, the Judge will
conduct a question-and-answer session with the students. If the Judge is
not available, the Court Executive Officer will speak with the students.
Once this is finished, the Court Tours Coordinator will escort the
students to a courtroom to watch a trial or other Court proceeding.
Before taking a Court Tour, it is
important for students to understand the etiquette required in Court.
Educators are encouraged to talk to students about the "Court do's and
don'ts" prior to their tour.
Do speak softly and maintain a
professional demeanor in the hallways
and stairwells of the Court.
Do remember that there are
bathrooms located outside of each
courtroom.
Do be respectful to the Judge;
address him or her as "Your Honor" or
"Judge."
Do turn off pagers and cellular
telephones while visiting the Court.
Do dress appropriately; this is a
professional setting and students are
encouraged to dress accordingly.
Do bring pens or pencils and paper
to take notes; there is a lot to learn
from a visit to the Court, and students are encouraged to take notes
of their observations.
Do not bring heavy backpacks or
totes into the Court as this delays
the security processes.
Do not speak in the courtroom
during a Court proceedings.
Do not chew gum in the courtroom.
Do not bring food or beverages
into the courtroom.
Do not repeat to your fellow
students what you heard in the courtroom
while still in the
Court; there may be jurors, attorneys, or parties
to
the case that may hear information from you they are
not
allowed to hear.
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