Sitting and listening to an entire trial can be a disturbing experience.
But it's something that judges, jury and other court workers such as
court clerks can be called on to do.
"You shouldn't do this job if you can't handle listening to gory
details," says Sue Pratt. She is a court clerk. "Having to stay and listen
to all the evidence can be very stressful.
"You can imagine in longer cases and murder trials the evidence you have
to hear and the exhibits that are being entered are not always pleasant."
Part of a court clerk's work is keeping the exhibits. "We have to
mark the exhibits, enter them and maintain a record," says Pratt.
This isn't difficult if only a few exhibits are required. "For longer
trials, it can become much more complex and time-consuming."
Seeing people and dealing with the public is an enjoyable part of the job,
but it can also be demanding. Very often, people in court are at a low point
in their lives.
"It can be stressful working in remand court, when people are in custody,"
says Pratt. "Nobody is happy to be in the situation they're in, and what
we hear can be very emotional. There are murder and custody cases that can
be depressing."
"What's difficult is the reality that you're dealing with people's
lives," agrees Mike Finney. He is a court clerk in Pennsylvania.
Finney works in the federal court system, where penalties for crimes are
often lengthy. When these sentences are handed out, emotions can run over.
"You see the agony that relatives are going through when someone they love
is being taken away from them for years."
He adds that after hearing a trial, he doesn't often feel overwrought
for the defendant, but for those surrounding them. "You don't really
feel sorry for the defendant in the same way. It's for the relatives
-- for the mother who has agony in her face."
In other cases, it is hard for court clerks not to feel something for the
defendant as well. Jackie Meisenheimer is a federal court clerk who works
in South Dakota. "Sometimes people come through the court that just don't
belong here," she says, citing drug cases where youth with clean records are
involved.
"For example, a young person might have been mixed up in something where
there was a gun in the car. They might not have been involved in anything,"
she says. "Because this is a federal court, they could go away to prison for
some time."
She says in all cases, the court clerk has to remain impartial and do her
job. "But when you hear some of the stories, you just want to shake them and
tell them to smarten up."
On the flip side, the work is never the same. And the outcome of some cases
brings jubilation into the courtroom. "We get to hear some very interesting
cases," says Pratt. "The job is also enjoyable because there is lots of variety."
Meisenheimer agrees. "No one day is the same," she says.
"For all of the trials, all of the hearings, we're present," she says.
She notes that clerks keep minutes about motions made, swear in witnesses
and keep track of exhibits.
"If the judge needs something done, we do it," she says. "We're the
ones who keep everything in the courtroom flowing."
Meisenheimer's job also includes some work outside the courtroom.
"You have to deal with people over the phone, and because files are open to
the public, you get to help them when they come in as well."
Because of this variety, Meisenheimer says she's always learning something
new. "There are always new cases. There is always something more to learn
about the job."
She also adds that how the court system operates isn't static. "You
have to be willing to change when new systems are in place. Even if you don't
think they make sense, you have to work with them."
Finney, who has worked with the same judge for many years,
says he finds pleasure in seeing and understanding how the court system works.
"The camaraderie is also enjoyable," he adds.