Can you watch court cases

Hardaway, Robert, and Douglas B. Levine, Raleigh Hannah. Liotti, Thomas F. Paul, Dan, Richard J. Ovelmen, and Enrique D. Practising Law Institute, November Shaw, Jack W.

Smolla, Rodney A. New York: Clark Boardman Callaghan, , sec. Denniston, Lyle. Access to Courtrooms [electronic resource]. Want to support the Free Speech Center? Donate Now. Musladin El Vocero de Puerto Rico v. Puerto Rico Press-Enterprise Co. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Superior Ct. As in federal court, you will not be able to attend grand jury proceedings. These are proceedings in which the prosecutor presents evidence before a group of jurors who will determine if there is a sufficient basis to bring criminal charges against a person.

Grand jury proceedings are held in secret and are not considered to be a part of the criminal trial process.

See Tex. Code Crim. You will not be able to access a few other hearings that have traditionally been closed to the public. You should be able to attend most juvenile hearings in Texas. Proceedings are public unless the court determines that there is good cause to close them. However, if the juvenile is under the age of 14, you will not be able to attend unless the court finds that the interests of the child or the interests of the public would be better served by opening the hearing. Code Ann.

In general, you should be able to attend civil proceedings, which are presumptively open to the public, in Texas state courts. A civil proceeding may only be closed when the denial of access serves an important interest and that there is no less restrictive way to serve that interest.

See Publicker Indus. Cohen , F. Subscribe to our content! Follow us on Twitter. We are looking for contributing authors with expertise in media law, intellectual property, First Amendment, and other related fields to join us as guest bloggers. If you are interested, please contact us for more details. Skip to main content. Citizens gain confidence in the courts by seeing judicial work in action, and learn first-hand how the judicial system works. In addition, nearly every federal court maintains a website with information about court rules and procedures.

In a few situations the public may not have full access to court records and court proceedings. In a high-profile trial, for example, available space may limit the number of observers.

Or, security reasons may limit access, such as the protection of a juvenile or a confidential informant. Finally, a judge may seal certain documents, such as confidential business records, certain law enforcement reports, and juvenile records.

Teachers should contact their local U. District Clerk's Office to set up a visit. Because the courts tend to be very busy, teachers should be prepared to allow several weeks of lead time when arranging a visit.

The clerk also will provide important logistical information, such as parking, for court visits. The best time to visit a court is during a unit on the judicial system or the rights that the system protects. In this context, students can put their new knowledge to use by observing and interpreting court sessions and finding out more information from judges and other court personnel. In particular, it may be helpful for students to learn about the structure, functions, and procedures of the court before attending.

Following up on a visit to the court is just as important as the preparation for the visit. Teachers should reinforce learning from the court experience through continued classroom activities on the judicial system.