During our Courts systems and practices class, professor Blake-Larson had assigned our class a reaction paper. I personally thought to myself that it would make me look crazy walking into the courthouse asking if they had any public cases some classmates and I could sit in on and gather interesting information on to help include into the paper.
Entering the parking garage next to the Tim Curry Criminal Court building it was quite empty at 8 a.m. waiting until a couple others arrived I got out and walked to the Tim Curry building. I had never been to a courthouse prior to April 6th, 2018, drove past many times while in downtown doing volunteer work. I had no idea they sent you through a security checkpoint like the airports. It makes sense since some people go crazy while they’re there for what ever reason, i.e.: serving on a jury, seek protective orders from violence, getting married, witness of a crime, claiming money. Being completely honest it was the most nerve-racking thing I’ve gone and done. All these jurors standing in the longest line amongst the six elevators in order get to their assigned floor and courtroom. Every time one of the chrome elevator doors opened up it was completely full like nobody was exiting on the floors it was going up and down too. Sadly it felt like we waited, waited and waited until elevator one finally opened back up and four of us were able to squeeze in like sardines on the muggy elevator. That alone made the anticipation of finding our courtroom that much worse all of us thought they would have employees of some kind to help direct people in the right direction.
Upon walking the halls of the 5th floor looking for the courtroom they had previously told us over the phone which floor criminal court was held on. Finding CCC1 walking in the entrance was like a boxed in fish bowl with sea foam green metal supports holding the windows in. Looking through the windows so confused they had so many people sitting in the benches waiting to listen to the case we originally thought was going to take place. Going in to find an open seat away from all these people, everyone started staring as I sat down, the look of you don’t look like you should be here. The bailiff an Judge David Cook walked in from the front right hand corner and asked everyone to rise, sat down and asked everyone to take a seat. Something I noticed was that everyone who went to speak with the Judge Cook was addressing him by “your honor”. Judge Cook began reading off the court docket; similar to being in school when the teacher/professors take attendance seeing whom all had shown up. Before everything seemed to start beginning I went up to the bailiffs desk and informed him why I was there. I told him I had this reaction paper I needed to do and was required to have the Certification of Authentication signed by someone in the courtroom. I had bailiff, Deputy Lorenzo Macias sign my certificate before they started expecting that they were going to be doing a trial after people showed up.
There were tons of attorneys coming in speaking with a court worker at the stand, receiving paperwork and having their offenders sign and date the paper work before they were able to stand before the Judge Cook. The attorneys one by one went when he called the offenders name to speak with them in the hallway to discuss what was fixing to take place. Not realizing which courtroom we had gone into besides it being a criminal court, we were over hearing what they had been saying at the stand. And began charging them with all misdemeanor charges of all degrees. The first man to appear came in from behind the courtroom where a holding cells; I’m assuming were back there. He was wearing a grey and white stripped jumpsuit and was charged with a class B misdemeanor on a marijuana possession under 2oz’s. The maximum punishment of $2,000 or 180 days in county jail, Judge Cook only gave him 10 days time served. Additionally after he gets out he will be on 6 months suspended/cancelled drivers license. The second inmate came in after he dismissed the one before him was also in a grey stripped jumpsuit and was getting release on probation for destruction of a highway. He had previously been adjudicated and pleads guilty on free will. He received credit for time served while in jail. A third came in wearing a bright orange jumpsuit and was found guilty of interference of an emergency call; receiving a year in jail. A lady in street clothes walked up from the hard yellow bench seats when her name was called, proceeded to the Judges stand had been convicted of destruction of a highway sign involving a DWI charge. She pleads guilty to a class B misdemeanor with a $200 fine with a day in jail. Judge Cook gave her community service and a donation of $150 to the Tarrant County Food Bank. In fact Judge Cook had made multiple people make a $150 donation to the food bank plus pay their court fees, I thought it was weird but if people have to keep spending extra money to help get off bond or not go to jail then I guess its worth it. One of the larger set guy came and the sheriff asked what his name was and he proceeded to tell him, he then told him to go sit in one of the chairs next to the bailiffs desk and empty his pockets and everything on him; to put everything in a small 6x12 plastic bag. He went to the stand after being arrested behind the doors and was charged with assault against a family member which happened to be his mom. He was illegally restraining himself from authorities he was sentenced to 20 days in county jail for pleading guilty. The final offender was brought to the stand where he was found guilty of assault and harassment a class B misdemeanor with a fine of $500. Judge Cook put him on 20 months probation and if he had a reoccurrence he would be sentenced to 6 months in jail.
This was an interesting assignment that didn’t involve doing research. Aside from sitting through a docket court instead of sitting in an actual active trial was a little upsetting, I think it would have been really fun to experience an actual trial with a very tough Judge. I personally think some of the people that were being on the stand should have received a better sentence. I wish we were able to fly to Judge Judy and sit in on one of hers; sadly she isn’t in criminal court (sad face).