The Student Room Group

Going to a Public Gallery

I planned on going to the public gallery in Cardiff Crown Court a couple times these holidays and was just wondering if there's a general procedure for these things?

Do I just turn up and walk in? I got the impression it's like that but how do I know what time the trial starts?

Would be interested to hear people's opinions of what the experience was like...

I got my LNAT book yesterday (the one by Mark Shepherd). According to Amazon reviews, it's supposed to be harder than the actual thing which I view as being a good thing. I've got really into it actually but I haven't attempted any of the essay questions yet...

Thanks in advance to all those people who read past my original query and through all my ramblings :smile:

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Reply 1
I've only been into the public gallery on A-Level law trips, so I've never had to arrange one myself, but I think you would need to find the phone number for Cardiff Crown Court and you can find out through that what cases are in court and what time etc.
Reply 2
mg18
I've only been into the public gallery on A-Level law trips, so I've never had to arrange one myself, but I think you would need to find the phone number for Cardiff Crown Court and you can find out through that what cases are in court and what time etc.


Thanks :smile: Will do.
I'd advise against it, because courts are really, really boring.
Its a public gallery you have the right to walk in but be advised they dont have a listings as it were describing the cases and so on and nor would i think they just give out all that info on the phone. Id go in urself and just walk in and out a few but not when the judge is talking, just be quiet, walk in, little nod to the judge and sit quietly lol and dont do as my mate did and leave your phone on!!!

Tony
If you really want to know what cases are on, you'll need to make friends with the listing officers. This is easier at a magistrates court, though. Go in around 9:30, and wait for them to open up the courtrooms. Someone will come out and say "Anyone for court 3?" or "I'm the list caller for 3". Once they seem to have a free moment, introduce yourself, be VERY nice and polite, and tell them that you're trying to find an interesting trial to watch for the day. List callers will know whats going on, and can direct you to all the juicy stuff.
Youa are legally entitled to know who is on trial but not what the case is specifically about, asking a barrister will normalyl get u in and bump into any usher and the first rule is dont walk in when the judge is speaking, it is the height of inproperness and you will get the look. Its just not done.

tony
Solemn:

You're absolutely right, at any public court there will be lists posted with the names of the cases (I suspect that they don't do this for youth and family courts, which are closed to the public, though that's only speculation).

However, listing officers will have the name of the cases, and also will have a brief blurb about what the case concerns, which is not publicly posted. These internal listings will, in the case of criminal courts, give (generally) the time of the offense, the specifics of the offense, the informant (whether it is being prosecuted by CPS, Securicor, or someone else). In addition, they generally know whether it will be a guilty/not guilty plea, and whether the case is going to include things like videolink evidence, special measures for vulnerable witnesses, CCTV or other tech evidence, or any equally sexy stuff.
Reply 8
Thanks to everyone, you've been really helpful :smile:
Reply 9
DON'T bang the door, or giggle and teehee when you're in there (not that you would I'm sure :smile:) but you wouldn't believe the cheek of some people...!
Start heckling, it's appropriate at all times especially when a lenient sentence is passed.
I have been to Norwich Crown Court a few times both with a group and with one or two people. You turn up, hand over any cameras or recording equipment, go through the metal detector then you're in. You can go to reception to get an Order of Business and find out what's on and who's being tried for what. Then you go upstairs where there are 6 court rooms, each has an electronic screen displaying the case, judge, stage of trial and whether you can go in.

You're supposed to wait for a suitable break in the trial to enter and sometimes, say in a rape case, they may ask you to leave. There are some pretty unsavoury charcters around and some of the ones on bail may not take kindly to your nosing in on their trial so be a bit wary but if you take a folder, notebook, textbook or something and dress fairly smartly they will get the idea you're a student.
Taking a textbook is one of the worst ideas ever.
Solemn Wanderer
The other thing is that I'm not entirely sure you are allowed actually to take notes in court if you aren't a journalist. There may be nothing to that but does anyone know for definite?

No this you certainly cannot do

Tony
See my sig disclaimer...

But, I do witness service at a Magistrates Court. I've certainly seen people in the galleries there taking notes. Often times they work for some of the NGO support agencies, but other times they may be family members or involved parties noting down a verdict/testimony.

Perhaps the rules aren't enforced at my mags court, or perhaps its different at the Crown Court, but I'm not aware of any restrictions. (Of course, family and youth courts will have restrictions, as will any case involving minors or vulnerable persons).
It's pretty easy to get into a Crown Court. As has been mentioned above, you have to go through metal detectors at the entrance like at the airport. There are usually big boards telling you what's going on in each court. From what I remember when I shadowed a barrister, there are heaps of pre-trial hearings that are really boring and you shouldn't waste your time with. Ushers will know what's going on so definitely just politely ask one. I wouldn't bother barristers with questions because they are there to advise and calm down their clients - I'm sure no one would be mean to you but perhaps it's fairer to ask court staff.

Hmm....oh yes, you can enter the court when it's in session, but go in very quietly and you're meant to nod your head at the judge as you enter. Sometimes they nod back (clearly if they're bored!) which is very exciting in a way (kind of...:P) And if you can, OP, get yourself down to the Old Bailey. There's plenty of gruesome murder in there - I saw the defence closing speech of a murder trial where the defendant had stabbed the victim in the eye and left him to bleed to death. Some of the more important courts look like 'traditional' English law courts rather than the plainer, modern ones usually found in the Crown courts.
"Sometimes they nod back (clearly if they're bored!) which is very exciting in a way" - I expect this to be exciting to Solemn and no-one else. You are now as boring as him.
I always get a little pitter-patter when the judge nods at me too. Once he actually smiled.



I had to be revived with smelling salts.
Lewisy-boy
"Sometimes they nod back (clearly if they're bored!) which is very exciting in a way" - I expect this to be exciting to Solemn and no-one else. You are now as boring as him.

Lol well everyone has their boring side...

I went to watch the opening at a murder trial in the old bailey it was very interesting. We just waited by side entrance, waited for Court 5 (we knew there was a murder trial there) and went in when allowed to do so by the security people.

Afew notes:

Note that its likely relatives of the victim or the accused will be in the public gallery - be respectful, not an idiot. We sat next to some students and one of them kept going on about how obvious it was the murderers are guilty, which later resulted in another girl having a massive argument with her outside the old bailey - the girl was the accuseds girlfriend.

Also the relatives of the accused/victim took notes - the secuirty took the notes off them and read through to make sure they werent taking down jurors names etc. but thne gave them back and allowed them to take notes

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