Court Visitation Assignment
BUS 200 – Law & Society class
North Seattle Community College
Name:_______________
1. Visit a court, preferably in the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett region, and observe for an
hour or so. During that time you might hear a short bench trial (i.e. a Judge deciding
the case without a jury), or perhaps part of a jury trial (i.e. with both Judge and Jury),
or you might hear pre-trial motions, or possibly sentencing for convicted criminals.
You might hear a contract dispute, person-injury tort claims, professional liability
(malpractice) claims, property ownership claims (like an "adverse possession" case) or
the whole range of criminal cases (from misdemeanors all the way to murder). You
may want to hear two or three issues before you decide which one to write up for this
project.
NOTE: Try to check in with the Clerk or Bailiff of the court before the Judge comes
into the courtroom, or during a break. You may be able to ask them what kind of
cases are scheduled that day. Although most courtrooms are "open to the public,"
please be very quiet from the moment you enter until after you have left. All persons
attending court should stand when the Judge enters or leaves.
Name and Location of Court:
______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
(example: King County Superior Court, K.C. Courthouse, Seattle; or
U.S. District Court, Federal Courthouse, Seattle; or
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 315 Park Place Bldg., Seattle)
Judge presiding over the Courtroom:
________________________________
(example: Judge Kathleen Learned; or Judge Barbara Rothstein)
Name of case you observed:
_______________________________________
(example: State vs. Hillary Clinton; or Boeing Co. vs. United Airlines, Inc.)
Brief description of the case or matter observed:_________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Anything you found confusing??____________________________________
______________________________________________________________
(example: Small-claims action by tenant to get refund of rental security deposit from former
landlord. The judge ruled that the landlord had to refund double the deposit because she did not
give the tenant a written report within 14 days of the end of the tenancy. )
Were you able to see the conclusion of this case? If so, what was the decision?
______________________________________________________________
If the case is continuing, when do you expect it to be decided? _____________
(Check with the clerk or bailiff to find out how to get the decision when it is
announced.)
______________________________________________________________
Now, so you can get used to filling out "legal forms," please complete the following
affidavit of attendance, to provide EVIDENCE of your attendance at the Court!
STATE OF WASHINGTON
)
COUNTY OF KING
)
)
S.S. AFFIDAVIT OF ATTENDANCE
I, ____________________, hereby swear or affirm that I attended the court,
(print name of student)
and observed the action described in this report, on this ___ day of
______________, 2000.
___________________________________
(signature of student)
Attested to by an official of the Court:
__________________________
Signature
___________________________________
Please print name and phone number, or
"stamp" courtroom info - THANKS!!!