Business Law - Events at a Session in North Carolina Supreme Court - Essay Example

The following are the people who were present during the court session

Chief justice: I. Beverly Lake

List of judges on the panel

1. Justice Sarah Parker
2. Justice Robert Orr
3. Justice Mark Martin
4. Justice Robert Edmunds
5. Justice George Wainwright
6. Justice G. K Butterfield

Bailiff: Corporal Mike Baker

Various Attorneys were present during the session. The various functions of the people shortlisted above during the court session included:

Bailiffs

The main function of the bailiffs who were present in the room was to provide security. When they arrived at the court, they first ensured that the courtroom was clean. They checked for things that might have been hidden in the court, which might interfere with the security such as bombs or grenades. When people were checking into the courtroom, they conducted a search to ensure that no one entered the courtroom while armed.

As the session moved on, they declared the entrance of judges in the courtroom and ordered that everyone stands in honor of judges moving into the room. They also made sure that judges have case files and other supplies that they needed for their work. The bailiffs also apprehended anyone who tended to disrupt peaceful procedures of the court and ensured that there was no contact between the judges and the members of the public so as to enforce security. In addition, they were charged with the mandate of ensuring that people do not enter the courtroom when juries are giving instructions to the court. The last function that was performed by bailiffs was escorting the judges to places like restraints to keep their security after they are through with the session.

Judges

The panel of judges who were present in the courtroom had their first duty of listening to all that was said in the courtroom. Everyone in the court referred to the judge as “your honor” whenever they, as a matter of demonstrating respect to them. They listened carefully to whatever was said and compared it to the law that they know with the purpose of understanding whether a crime has been committed or not. They were dressed in the court official robes meant for judges. Seated on an elevated seat that is referred to as a bench, the chief justice together with the other judges were able to control the whole courtroom and what went on.

Attorneys

Lawyers of each party were seated at the counsel table as the proceedings went on in the courtroom.  They took turns when speaking to the judges and were keen not to interrupt the proceedings of the court when not allowed to speak. Whenever each lawyer was given time to speak, he or she presented facts that would have put the case at hand more favorable to them. The prosecutor who represented the government and society as a whole was also present within the courtroom. There were no defendants who were acting pro se in the cases that were being heard on that day.

Witnesses

They were concerned with giving facts about the case that was under dispute in the courtroom. They sat on the witness stand when they were giving out their testimonies and were asked questions by the other party that they were witnessing. They were in most cases referred to as defense witnesses.

Courtroom Deputy

They were seated next to the judges and are tasked with the responsibility of administering oaths to witnesses and also marking the exhibits.  They however assisted the judges in ensuring that the activities of the court ran smoothly.

Court reporter

They sat near the witnesses and their function was to record all that was going on or what was introduced as evidence. They ensure that word for word record of all the proceedings of the trial as required by federal law. They also provide transcripts of the proceedings of the Supreme Court whenever asked to do so by either party in case of an appeal.

Parties

The parties that are involved in the cases were present in the courtroom and were seated within their counsel’s bench. They however contributed minimally in the proceedings but only through consultations with their lawyers.