This homework assignment is two part:
Part 1: GO TO CRIMINAL COURT. You must observe criminal court in session in any state or federal court for a minimum of 2 hours. You have two options to do this: Live or Video. I suggest you do your best to view live court for the extra experience it certainly offers all around, however recognizing some students have full day commitments and cannot attend, the choice is yours and credit is equal.
Option 1- Live observation: You spend a few hours observing proceedings in any criminal court. Many students did this with me during the last week. (See our picture below from GA 23 New Haven on 4/22/16!) Some students attended other courts on their own.
Option 2- Video observation: You watch a tape of a recent actual criminal court proceeding (trial, pre- or post trial) for a minimum of 2 hours. If you choose this, send me a link to the video you watched in addition to the information required below.
Part 2: REPORT YOUR OBSERVATIONS.
To receive any credit for the court observation in Part I, all students must hand in or email me a report on their court observations. It must be typed and a minimum of 2 pages, double spaced. It is due by 5/5/16 via email, or it may be handed in during the last class. It must include the following:
1. Identify a minimum of five criminal procedures you observed or heard described by the Court that are required by the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. Identify the protected right and the applicable Amendment from the Bill of Rights (4th, 5th, 6th or 8th?) Briefly describe the case or type of court docket it applied to. You may add any additional remarks. (Worth 5 points each).
2. Answer the final question: What was the most valuable thing you learned from you observation experience?