Overview
Here is an additional opportunity for extra credit that will be worth 25 points.
COURTROOM VISITATION - The purpose of this assignment is to allow you the opportunity to see Court in action. This assignment requires you to visit, either in person or virtually (livestream) a court proceeding through any of the the district courts or circuit courts in Macomb County.
However, due to the Pandemic, some courts are still limiting who may attend court proceedings in person, so you should research what court you'd like to visit and see if they allow in person or require you to participate and watch from livestream (this info should be listed on each court's home page website).
Also, if you are currently involved in a court proceeding, you are more than welcome to use that experience for this paper if you would like, if you can answer the assigned questions.
There will not be any sign in sheet at the court; therefore, you must include in a short, well-written paper including:
- the name of the court you attended or live stream/conference call if the court is using video proceedings (ex: 39th District Court)
- the name of Judge(s) you viewed,
- the date you attended or virtually watched,
- the docket number/court case file number of the matter(s) you heard,
- a brief description of what you saw, heard, the type of action it involved (civil matter, landlord, criminal matter etc.), and
- your overall thoughts or opinion on everything.
Your paper should be written in paragraph form, using proper grammar, spelling, etc.
Remember the assignment must be completed over the course of this semester and CANNOT be about an earlier experience you were involved or had previously viewed. Additionally, you may have to watch a few proceedings before you can answer all of the above questions, due to adjournments etc., so be prepared to be there for about an hour or so.
If you are physically unable to attend any live court, you may also visit several of the Michigan courts via the internet by visiting that court’s home page (e.g. https://www.courts.michigan.gov/court-livestream/Links to an external site.).
If you visit one of the Michigan courts live court proceedings, you must include the same information as listed above and please include the link for the court proceeding you viewed, however, I prefer you research Macomb County Courts first.
Upon entering the Courtroom, you should go see the Clerk (they will be seated in the front under the Judge's bench) and let them know you are a Macomb College student. The Judge and/or their staff usually will provide some good information about the day's proceedings (i.e., a copy of the Judge's docket) and sometimes the Judge will ask you if you have any questions after the docket is completed. So don't be afraid to sit in the front !
This extra credit assignment will provide you with an excellent opportunity to see the judicial process at work, as well as let you see matters involving areas of law that we have been discussing or will be discussing.
Please note that failure to follow these instructions on which courts you may view via the internet or in person may result in earning a zero.