Court post, couldn't resist the reference. So as I just said this is about my day (well few hours) in court. I said I would do this Friday and to the podcast today but I think it makes more sense to go this way. The podcast IS recorded though, so expect it Friday. I recorded while cooking my dinner.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I was woken up today pretty early by my dad, and we set out kind of early too. Though it turned out to be a good thing we did. My dad followed the map instead of the street signs (don't recommend that btw) so it took us a little bit longer to get to the court than I would have liked. Though even then we were very early. They told me to arrive about fifty minutes before the trial actually started. I was due in at half one, and the trial didn't start until twenty past two. As such I had a fair amount of time to kill in the witness waiting room. My solicitor was kinda cute though. Charming voice too, that guy seriously put me at ease. If I was to be a lawyer (not likely) I imagine he's the kind of guy I'd want to be.
So anyway, I watch some news, read some very old magazines, and eventually I get lead into the courtroom. Turns out my guy forgot that we were in juvenile court and so I had to ask permission for my dad to be there. Despite the fact that the other guy had both his parents with him. Still the magistrates were nice and said he could sit there, which was kinda a relief.
After briefly swearing on the bible, that I would tell the truth not actual cursing, the thing started. By the way did you know these days that you don't have to swear on the bible? You can take something called an affirmation. I didn't realise this, and you can correct me if I'm wrong but I think in America you still have to swear on the bible. I had no problem swearing to God though. I've sworn at the guy, might as well swear to him.
We start off with me confirming my name, and then my solicitor, I'm just going to call him Guy because the defending solicitor was a girl, so she shall be Girl. So, Guy asks me some questions and I give him all the right answers (he said I was softly spoken, my heart melted) and I think it went well. I barely stumbled or stuttered or rambled. Though I was picking my nails and my feet were moving, so I know I was kinda nervous.
After that Girl gets up, and what I thought might happen, happened. She picked apart everything. She made me say that there was no way to know for sure if the second person who came into the house was definitely male. That there was a possibility that after he turned out the lights he left the house and the girl who was outside came in and stole the router. I know she's doing her job, but still, yeahhhh this guys nervous, let's make him admit he could be wrong.
I guess I don't really have an issue with what she did, like I said, it was her job, but I'd hate to see the guy get off just because I didn't know for sure it was a boy or a girl.
I left after I gave my evidence and I'm going to learn by post what happened with this. So for now all I can do is sit it out and wonder what happened. Oh well.
At least I went.
I've never had to do anything like this and never even been inside a courtroom. I would have been a nervous wreck. I think it helped that your solicitor was so cute, I would probably get some giant female solicitor who looked like a toad. And I'd be scared she would eat me.
ReplyDeleteHehe I have been in a court once before when I sat in on a trial with school but this was my first time actually being involved. There was barely anyone there, which helped. Just the two solicitors, the three magistrates, the kid, and his parents, and my dad.
DeleteAnd me of course.
Let's hope he get's the chair, the needle or the gas...or the rope!
ReplyDeleteHaha I don't think he did enough for that.
DeleteTake pics if that happens.
DeleteAt least you now have the cool experience of being a witness in court! Bright side, anyone?
ReplyDeleteThe attorney was doing her job, sure, but does that guy who stole your router have an alibi?
As far as I know he doesn't have an alibi. It is an experience too that's for sure.
DeleteCool~ I think court sessions are very interesting. Well, to prove an accusation, it should be beyond reasonable doubt and I'm under the impression that you are still in doubt. O_o
ReplyDeleteI know it has to beyond reasonable doubt but it happened months ago, and "it looked like a boy" doesn't cut it so well.
DeleteIt's a good experience to have and I'm sure the jury will come to the right verdict. I love courts, which is useful being as it fits in with my job, but Lawyers can be real arses sometimes.
ReplyDeleteWell I think you have to have a bit of a dick in you (ba dum tsch) to be a lawyer. There wasn't a jury, just three magistrates who come to a decision.
DeleteOver ruled!
ReplyDeleteAnd why pod cast on friday? I don't blog on fridays! Don't worry I'll be here friday!
Good for you with going, I think in Canada you can swear with that affermation thing too and though the girl was doing her job I think the adversarial system of figuring out guilt is silly!
(was the girl lawyer hot? big chest? you didn't say! These things matter!)
It's on Friday because I had something else planned for tomorrow. So I let it be. You don't have to blog to stop by. She was kinda hot but not really my type. I'd say above average chest, wasn't really looking.
DeleteI needed to ask. You went on about the cuteness of the guy but said nothing of the girl! Now I'm wondering what tomorrow holds!
DeleteWell, it seems like things went as well as could be expected. Better in fact.
ReplyDeleteIt did go better than I expected, that's for sure.
Deleteobjection! time to put some jazz on while i read this lengthy literature
ReplyDeleteTurnabout Jazz is awesome.
DeleteSounds like a stressful experience, but it is good you have had to intestinal fortitude to follow through and attempt to see justice is done.
ReplyDeleteI always try to do what I believe to be right. Though I'm not sure that has anything to do with this.
DeleteEven though the circumstances aren't the best, it must be quite an experience doing all this court stuff. It's not like everyone gets to try it in their lifetimes.
ReplyDeleteWell I didn't get the full experience either really but I got something.
DeleteAw man, hope everything turns out in your favor. I feel like there'd be so much pressure to say exactly the right things in a trial.
ReplyDeleteThat was something I felt pressure over but I think I did a good job.
DeleteDo you have to swear on the bible even if you're not religious?
ReplyDeleteNo you can take an affirmation, but I never learnt what that entailed. I just took the bible oath.
DeleteSwearing on the bible would just make me more likely to lie, I think.
ReplyDeleteMark, despite a good start I show really poor form in staying up to date with blogs - when did this router theft occur?
It was last Halloween. So way back.
DeleteI think you don't have to swear on the bible if you're an atheist. Agnostic is a different story.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's a word for what I am but I do believe in God so had no problem with the bible oath.
DeleteI'd take the affirmation...
ReplyDelete"I've sworn at the guy, might as well swear to him."
ReplyDeleteHell yeah.
I don't get why the gender of the person is being thrown around so much. Hello, Transgender operations?
I don't think you can change gender that quickly, though I'll keep the idea in mind. The gender got brought in a lot because it was two guys and a girl, one guy pleaded guilty and the girl wasn't charged. It was basically to make sure that what this guy is accused of doing isn't something the girl did.
DeleteWow, must've been nervous!
ReplyDeleteI was fine while my solicitor was talking to me, like I said he's a cute guy, but when the woman was talking to me I did get nervous.
DeleteI would never wanna imagined myself inside the courtroom. haha! glad u made it out alive :D
ReplyDeleteHaha I never really thought I'd end up there either, but at least it wasn't as the defendant.
DeleteWell, at least ya got in there and did what ya to do~! 'S all that should be required of you, given the situation.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'.
It was all I had to do and I do feel pretty damn good that I got it done.
DeleteWell, I hope things go your way. I grew up in a terrible neighborhood. As a child, my home was broken into many times. A few of those times, my parents knew who it was, but we never called the police. It was against street code. It toughened me up, though, which can be amusing to witness.
ReplyDeleteWell I suppose if it toughened you up it can't have been that bad.
DeleteThose defense attorneys can be a bit on the harsh side. I'm glad you got through it, and I hope that it comes to pass that the guy pays for stealing from you.
ReplyDeleteI'd have been nervous too
ReplyDelete