The US District Court House - Term Paper Example

The US District Court House: A court house is an institution that houses a court of law. It is within a courthouse that the process of administration of justice occurs. A court house can also host the various governmental offices, and it is therefore an administrative center. The New court house is an example of a district court house. It is under the federal court system, and it therefore acts as a trial court. This court adjudicates criminal and civil cases. On this basis therefore, it is a court of equity, admiralty, and law (Shugerman, 43). This court also houses the bankruptcy court, which solves the financial disputes of its own citizens, and members of the state under consideration. Judges working under the court house were referred to as US district judges, and they held the title of honorable. These judges concentrate on managing the overall work within the court system, supervision of trial proceedings, and writing legal opinions, and judgments. These judges can delegate some of their duties to magistrate judges. They can ask magistrates to resolve disputes that center on recovery of assets, or write a legal opinion concerning an issues under the supervision of the judge in question. The District judge can also assign duties to the magistrate concerning taking over the hearing of a case in which the judge presides over. But this is usually after consulting with all the parties concerned in the dispute (Shugerman, 33). The attorneys practicing in this court are admitted to the bar of the court, and the qualification is that the specific attorney must qualify to practice law, in the USA. The new court house has jurisdiction to hear the following types of cases; 1. Civil disputes that emanate from the constitution of United States of America, and the various laws of the Federal government. 2. Civil disputes that arise between citizens of various states. 3. Civil disputes, of maritime/ admiralty that are within the jurisdiction of United States of America. 4. Criminal cases. 5. Civil disputes where United States government is a party. The court house is split into divisions, with various judges heading the divisions concerned. For instance there is a division that deals mainly with civil cases, and another division that deals mainly with criminal cases. The court house has a clerk office, and it is at this section that litigants will submit their documents for filing (Simon, 43). It is at this section, that court fees, and various fines imposed on offender is paid. Upon payment of the money, an official receipt is issued, as a proof of payment. Security within the court house is also good. For instance, the court house has a security check point before an entrance to the building. At this point, security personnel are tasked with checking any incoming individual if they have any weapons that might be a threat to people working within the court house. In searching the bags, security personnel at this court house use an x-ray machine. A metal detector is used when people walk through the gates. In my own opinion, the security system at the court house is commendable. Since it is a center for the administration of justice, people who felt aggrieved by the judges or complainant can attack the institution. For example; in 1995 at the downtown Los Angeles court house, a man killed his ex-wife, following a marital dispute that was under the court, and the case was brought before the Californian Supreme Court (Palmer, 43). In this case, children of the dead woman argued that the Los Angeles County, which was responsible for the administration of the court house, was liable to the children of the slain officer. This is because they failed to enact adequate security mechanism that could prevent the occurrence. On this note therefore, to prevent instance like this, the court house is justified in conducting the various checks on the visitors of the institution. However, one recommendation that I would suggest is for the organization to increase the number of its security personnel for purposes of effectively monitoring the movements of each and every individual who gains an access to the court house. Specifically, these officers should monitor suspected criminals and offenders brought whose cases are being heard at the court house. The judges are also charged with enormous duties, and on this note, it is important to delegate some of their duties. On this note therefore, the presence of magistrate judges is a relieve to the US district judges (Aberle, 21). A recommendation on this observation is that the court house needs to hire more magistrates as this will help in efficiency in the administration of justice. The admission of attorneys who have passed the bar exams of the court house is meant to enhance professionalism, and integrity from the attorneys. This is because a large percentage of attorneys within United States of America are ill prepared when attending court room sessions. Finally, one of the strengths of the court house is the nature of its staff. The court house has a dedicated group of judges, clerical officers, magistrates, and support staff. All these people combine their efforts to create an effective work force that efficiently and professionally carries out its duties. Another strength of the court house is the ability of it’s administration to secure the building. Through the various security checks of the entry and exit points of the institution, the administrators of the building have managed to prevent any acts of criminal activities within the institution that can compromise the security and safety of people working within the institution, or its visitors. Despite these strengths, there are certain weaknesses of the organization. Judges, magistrates and clerks of the court house complain of the numerous backlogs of cases, and files that require their attention. On this basis therefore, the organization lacks enough magistrates and judges who can help in solving the cases before them in a quicker manner. This was the major weaknesses denoted during my visit. Works Cited: Aberle, Robert. Administration of justice. S.l.: Kendall Hunt, 2012. Print. Palmer, Nicola Frances. Critical perspectives in transitional justice. Cambridge, U.K.: Intersentia ;, 2012. Print. Shugerman, Jed Handelsman. The people's courts: pursuing judicial independence in America. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2012. Print. Simon, Dan. In doubt: the psychology of the criminal justice process. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2012. Print. Read More