DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology 3685 3.0 POPULAR TRIALS
R.Weisman-C117 York Hall rweisman@yorku.ca 2014 http://rweisman.apps01.yorku.ca
Courtroom Observation Assignment
Topic: Describe what you observed in one of the settings included in the list below.
You may attend a morning, afternoon, or evening session(where possible.). Your report should consist of the following:
1. Identify the setting you attended and the date of your visit and indicate briefly what happened, e.g., reschedulings, guilty pleas, bail hearings trial proceedings,etc. Be candid about any difficulties in comprehension you may have experienced.
2. Patterns of communication- who talks to whom? Describe in brief any patterns you observe in the participation of the judge( or commissioner or justice of the peace), defense counsel, Crown counsel(or prosecutor), defendant, victim, witnesses,etc. Pay special attention to the defendant or accused- with whom do they interact? How would you describe their participation in the proceedings? Do you perceive any rules that are guiding the process?
3. Using readings and lectures, apply any ONE of the following concepts we have discussed to the setting you have observed- REPRESENTATION- (e.g., how is character ascribed to the defendant or witness or victim if at all? If relevant, what attributes are selected to stand in for the victim or the accused? How are they assigned? ) ; NARRATIVE- if relevant, such as speaking to sentence, what are the narratives and counter narratives that were presented? How are these narratives mediated- that is, do they emerge from the examination? Does the accused contribute to the production of the narrative and, if so, in what way? How does the setting affect the way these accounts are communicated? DISCOURSE (e.g., describe use of specialized language or coded phrases or expressions that layperson might not understand, give instances in which accused persons or defendants were accommodated or restricted in their speech; your assessment of whether events, procedures are understood by defendants and the basis for assessment.)
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DRAMATURGY-- what special rules of conduct are applied in this setting?
Describe your own reactions to the setting as a visitor. Apply the concepts of front region and back region to the court- are there actions that occur in the court room you observed that you could classify as front region or back region behavior?
Explain why. Also, note special forms of dress, the physical arrangement of participants in room, the use of special titles,etc. Pay special attention to the defendant or accused- how are they dressed? How would you describe their manner- e.g., respectful or disrespectful; relaxed or agitated, etc.? Does the court generate a feeling of awe? If yes, how? If not, why not? (Hint: you might begin by formulating these concepts in your own terms before you apply them.)
4. Indicate any features of the setting that were different from what you expected.
For example, many of us are exposed to TV renditions of American court scenes.
Are there differences that you observe between what you expected and what you find in a Canadian courtroom?
Specifications: Recommended length is between 2- 5 typewritten pages in length, double-spaced, with footnotes and bibliography. Assignment is due on Tuesday,
November 4, 2014 to be handed in at class or put in the drop box at C213 York
Hall by noon- 12 pm. Hard copy is required.
LIST OF SETTINGS
A. Ontario Courts of Justice- Criminal Division
1. Old City Hall , Monday-Friday
60 Queen St. West
Main Floor, Bail Hearings Morning-9-12
Rm. 101, 103 Afternoon, 2-4
Rm. 102 Mental Health Court 10-12: 2-4
Rm. 114 Domestic Court “
Rm. 111 Reschedulings “
2 nd floor Trials and Guilty Pleas “
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3 rd floor, rms. Traffic Court 10-12; 2-4
B, C, D, E,
F, H, L, N, R May have
extra hours
Clerk’s office is in rm. 250- you can ask here about what’s scheduled for each of the courts.
2. 444 Yonge St.,
College Park- rm. 501 Bail Hearings 10-12:2-4
Rm. 503 Plea Court “
Rms. 502, 506, reschedulings, trials “
507
3. 1911 Eglinton East
(near Warden Ave.,) Trials and Bail hearings “
4. 2201 Finch West, rm. 201 Trials “ rm. 203 Specials- Superior Court
and Gang Matters “ rm. 206 Adult Bail Court “ rms. 208,
210, 211, 212 Trial courts “
5. 1000 Finch West Bail hearings, guilty pleas,
Trials “
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B. Superior Court of Justice,
361 University Avenue-
Queen and University-
Rooms on 2 nd , Check lists at table on first floor- 10-12;
4 th - 7 th floors Jury trials, sentencings 2-4
offences, sentencings
C. Small Claims Court- 8:30- 5:00
47 Sheppard Ave., East, 416-326-3554
3 rd floor
D. Youth Courts- under Youth Criminal Justice Act
1. Jarvis Youth Court-
311 Jarvis Street, rm. 1 First appearances
Court room 7 Trial Court 10-1; 2-4
2. Scarborough Court-
1911 Eglinton Ave., East
Rm. 408 Youth Court “
3. Metro West Court rm. 207 Youth Trials “ rm. 204 Youth Bail Court “
4. Gladue Courts- Aboriginal Legal Services
Old City Hall- rm. 116 10-1; 2-4
1000 Finch St., rm. 302 Monday afternoon-2-4
444 Yonge St., College Park, rm. 509 Thursday, 10-1: 2-4
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