Thursday, July 16, 2015
Group Day Reflections - July 15
Take a few minutes, please, to reflect on the time we spent at at the Arlington County Courts and Police Building yesterday. Choose one important, interesting and/or
new idea, fact, or bit of information you learned during the morning. Spend a few sentences explaining why
you chose to write about that item. (You do not need to respond to anyone else's comment, unless you feel you must.)
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I enjoyed yesterday's field trip a lot, more than our trip to ESRI. I found out observation of the court to be particularly interesting. It sure showed me the importance of dressing properly.... I also enjoyed hearing from the attorney and prosecutor. While the two are technically opposite ends of the legal system, they had similar viewpoints about getting justice. I liked how the lawyer described himself as sometimes the last person that a defendant can rely on. I appreciated in how human of a way he put this, as being an attorney is often seen as a sort of cold job. I also thought the people at the jail gave us a very informative tour. I particularly liked the deputy's talk at the end of the tour, as he had a very positive outlook on his career that was refreshing, despite the fact that he has to often deal with criminals and the darker side of people.
ReplyDeleteI was really fascinated with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, since I have a lot of friends who are involved in that court (due to child support, nothing incriminating). I also admire Judge Wiggins (hope I got her name right!), since she seems so caring; it personally made me joyful to hear that she gives away stuffed animals to little children. It stood out to me when she mentioned that she wanted to make sure that the kids who showed up to court know that they're not in the worst place in the world. I already knew this, but it's just pleasant to hear how they're all thinking in the best interest of the children.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated the input from both the defense attorney and the prosecutor in the juvenile court. Each side indeed does have someone to protect. Being a people person, I could see how I would find great joy in either one of these jobs (if I could be patient enough to take the bar). The experience also opened my eyes to the fact that the people in jail aren't bad people - they're people like us who simply made some bad choices in life. The world is so unfair to these individuals, especially when it comes to applying for jobs. Perhaps I could do some work with a non profit to aid them in their journeys to become better, more accomplished people. We'll see!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was helpful to see Arlington's justice system in action, as it put more gravity behind the seriousness of the law and gave me more trust in our police officers, sheriffs, and judges. I appreciated that the judge presiding in the General Court yesterday took time to talk to us and answer his questions. I am constantly reminded through this program that it is important to take things slowly and never to lose sight of the way we impact other people.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed my time at the court house and police building. As others have said, I think that the most interesting type of court to see was the Juvenile and Domestic court. It is so strange that the offense (prosecutor) and defense (attorney) have jobs that are so similar, yet they are very different. It was also interesting to hear the difference between a sheriff and police officer. I was expecting there to be a significant difference, however, their jobs are extremely similar.
ReplyDeleteI liked seeing what people actually had to go through when in court. It seemed like some of the cases had already been decided and the judge didn't really make a decision. I was surprised that for the Metro fee evasion penalty, the two men had different penalties. The man in street clothes got a $50 fine while the man in a suit had a $25 fine. I hope the judge didn't base his decision on appearance but there was a criminal history or something on the man in street clothes. Overall i thought it was a very interesting trip and it taught me I don't want to be a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to me to see the whole process that would occur in a particular case. We got to see the place where people were held in waiting for their sentence, we got to see the people in front of the judge, and we got to see the people being sentenced and the punishment they received. What I didn't like to see was how much the justice system is about punishment and not reform. A person who is kept in prison for many years will still be the same person and they won't have any more fear of the justice system, only hate. If the justice system were more reformative, they would appreciate the sentence because they know it is in an effort to help them instead of keep them away from the rest of society.
ReplyDeleteI found the personal stories of the defense attorney and the prosecutor fascinating. Each of them grew up in a family of lawyers, wanted to pursue that career, are passionate about upholding the law, and want to make sure people know that someone is on their side. Despite all these similarities they pursued opposing sides of that career. The defense attorney seemed to be mostly driven by upholding peoples right to a trial not matter what they did and making sure people who make mistakes don't feel completely abandoned. The prosecutor seem to me mostly driven by making sure that those who did wrong were punished. Both are admirable mindsets.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of our trip to courthouse was listening to the words of advice from the prosecutor and the defense lawyer. After the defense attorney did his thought provoking speech about always needing to have someone in your corner, no matter what mistakes you've made, I was unsure how the prosecutor would counter that. However, the prosecutor had an amazing response about how important upholding the laws of the state are and the meaning of justice for all. These mini lectures were intriguing to listen to. It was as if they were telling different sides of the same story.
ReplyDeleteThe trip to the courthouse as well as jail was interesting because I learned about the process someone who has committed a misdemeanor or felony goes through before they are sent to a jail, prison, or simply fined. The tour of the jail was also very informative, and we learned that the maximum amount of time someone who has committed a felony remains in jail is a year before they are either transferred to a federal prison or are released.
ReplyDeleteOur trip to the courthouse was more interesting than the police building/jail. I was privileged to observe the actions unfold in the courtroom. I was impressed with all the defendants who admitted guilt. I was not pleased with some of the defendants who dressed inappropriately. The homeless man, Mr. Abdhi, was an exception. The justice system can appear intimidating, but it is important for the defendants to know their rights and make the right choices. I believe that justice is for all defendants who are willing to fight for it. All the cases that we observed were plea agreements depending on the seriousness of the crime.
ReplyDeleteEven though it was sometimes hard to hear, I liked watching the events in the courtroom. It was odd to me how various people interacted with the judge; some only to say that they're guilty, and others, like the homeless man, tried to argue a topic that was completely irrelevant to their trial. I also enjoyed the tour of the jail process, and found it interesting that most people in jail would rather be in prison. I would have to agree with them, it seems like a boring way to live life because of one mistake
ReplyDeleteOur trip to courthouse was a very interesting experience to say the least. Watching how the courtroom works makes to realize how hard it may be (morally) to be a judge. I really appreciated the advice of the prosecutor and defense lawyers along with the judges'. It was nice hearing how each person looks at a case and how they differ, like Jessica mentioned it was like hearing different sides to the same story.
ReplyDeleteEven though my internship is at the courthouse, I still learned many new things about the Arlington justice system. I found the jail tour interesting and informative, but I particularly enjoyed our visit to Juvenile Domestic Relations Court. I enjoyed this part of the trip because we were able to hear from Judge Wiggins and some of the attorneys from the prosecution and defense about how they arrived in their careers. I found Judge Wiggins' and Mr. Rucker's message about justice being for everyone, no matter where they come from or whether they are guilty or innocent, especially interesting and important.
ReplyDeleteThis week's field trip to the courthouse and jail really made me appreciate the difficult but rewarding work of judges, lawyers, and police officers. It was interesting to see the justice system at work, with the proceedings in the courtroom and the jail. I noticed that everything is very organized, with a specific schedule for each day. This systematic approach has helped to create an effective system to deal with even the most chaotic situations.
ReplyDeleteOur trip to Courthouse was really interesting because it was the first time that I have had the experience of watching actual court sessions. The thing I found most interesting was that each case lasted for only about a minute or so. The process was much more informal than I thought. It was also very interesting about how hard it is to be a judge because they have to make decisions very quickly and decidedly.
ReplyDeleteI found our trip to the court and the county jail to be very intriguing. It was very interesting to see Arlington County's judicial system in action. I learned that being respectful while in court is very important and can help reduce your sentence. I also found it interesting to get a fresh perspective on the judicial system. I found the juvenile court to be the most interesting. I never knew that the court tries to do what is best for the child. Knowing that both the juvenile court and the regular court treat people fairly gives me faith in the judicial system. FInally, going to the jail gave me motivation to not commit crimes!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that I learned so much, since my internship is at a court. I really appreciated the jail tour, because it was very interesting. This field trip confirmed my belief that court systems all over the U.S are very similar. This court functioned a lot like the court I work at; the cases went at about the same speed, and this court even used the same financial forms we use.
ReplyDeleteThis was my second time in court. First time for getting my license, a minor offense. I enjoyed this field trip a lot. I admire the law enforcement and judicial system for what they do and how they carry it out. Coming from a family with a lawyer, I've been around law, but never dove too much into it. I could see something in law or enforcement as a career, but this field trip at the very least sparked a new found interest and respect for the law.
ReplyDeleteThe experience in the courthouse was interesting to me because we got to see many different kinds of legal courts. I always though of courtrooms and trials as the kind in "A Few Good Men" where lawyers and witnesses keep screaming at each other, creating unnecessary drama, and the judge is constantly having to yell "Order in the court!" However, when we visited the courthouse I realized just how calm the courtroom can be and that there isn't only one judge presiding over every case that comes in. Looking back I realize that was a foolish assumption. Of course they have multiple judges. I also realized that not every case requires a jury to listen and deliberate.
ReplyDeleteThe experience in the courthouse was interesting to me because we got to see many different kinds of legal courts. I always though of courtrooms and trials as the kind in "A Few Good Men" where lawyers and witnesses keep screaming at each other, creating unnecessary drama, and the judge is constantly having to yell "Order in the court!" However, when we visited the courthouse I realized just how calm the courtroom can be and that there isn't only one judge presiding over every case that comes in. Looking back I realize that was a foolish assumption. Of course they have multiple judges. I also realized that not every case requires a jury to listen and deliberate.
ReplyDeleteI like the tour of the jail and learning that they let the inmates walk around. I thought they would show us more, but it was nice to hear from the sheriffs. They have a way of doing thing, the way they are trained, but their is still room for adjustments based on the person. I also was surprised by how fast each case went by, and how repetitive it must get for the judge.
ReplyDeleteHaving been my first trip to the court/jail house, I found about as interesting as I expected it would be. My favorite part about the trip was being able to sit in on a few district court sessions. I thought it was fun to see who got in trouble for what. Although the rest of the trip was nice, I did not find it the most interesting. Maybe this is because I do not have much interest in law. I wish we got to see more of the jail.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this trip a lot. A part of the trip that stuck out to me was the court cases. I got to witness what actually went on in court rather than making assumptions from Judge Judy (which is perfectly fine btw).Watching the court cases was definitely the highlight of the trip, but I was also interesting with the jail. Learning about what goes on in there was really cool.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stuck with me is that anyone can spend some time in court, or even jail. People with nine to five jobs will have a little too much to drink, and end up paying for it. Showing up in court and getting charged with something is something that people will notice and gather negative attention. Some time can even be spent in jail as a result of making one poor choice. Jail just looked like an incredibly belittling experience. One poor choice will have results.
ReplyDeleteI never knew before how many different kinds of courts there were within a courthouse. The most interesting part of the trip for me was the visit into the courthouse itself; the Jail not so much. It was a unique experience getting to question the judges and the attorneys.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to hear why the attorney and the lawyer chose to do what they do. Hearing their viewpoints showed me how one's value and background can have a tremendous impact on what one pursues as a career. Both had very logical reasons as to why they chose their particular career. This made me think about why I want to become a doctor and what my role would be as a doctor in people's lives.
ReplyDeleteThe trip to the Arlington Courthouse was an interesting one. I never really knew that there are different kinds of courts for different cases and it was also interesting to hear some of the cases first-hand. It showed me that even the pettiest charges will end up with some sort of punishment in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe trip to Arlington Courthouse was fascinating. I had not thought about all of the different courts that needed to be in one building. Going to a jail with a Sheriff tour was also very cool, and informative. I was fascinated by the judicial process, and this trip made me more interested in being a lawyer! I think I would be more interested in corporate law, and we did not get to see that.
ReplyDeleteI liked the trip to the courthouse. My favorite part was the jail. I say this because I was chosen to be the example pretending to be an inmate which was cool. I got to go through the whole process of them searching me, taking my mugshot, and scanning my fingerprints. Now I definitely don't want to go to jail!
ReplyDelete