Week 3
This past week I have spent most of my time organizing old case files ranging from the late ’80s to the early 2000s. There is a record room where these files are kept in numerical order so they can easily be accessed. Last week I learned how to read docket sheet numbers and how to organize them. I went through many piles of papers and separated sheets that needed to be kept and ones that could be thrown away. I then put the dockets sheets that need to be kept into binders. Each binder holds 500 cases. While doing this project I was familiarized with the way docket sheets are filled out. Most of the knowledge I gained this week has to do with the ways records are kept and how paperwork is filled out. Even though it sounds boring it is very important to the judicial system and the way cases are processed.
​
There have been some difficult and awkward situations during my internship. For example, there was a case I was watching where a woman was giving testimony about an instance of abuse in her home. It was very hard to watch the way the defendants' lawyer rationalized all of the abuser's actions and made him seem like the victim. Everyone in the courtroom seemed to be disturbed with this but there was nothing we could do to help the situation. It can be difficult to watch some of the cases because they deal with severe mental health problems or instances of horrible abuse. Sometimes I want to talk about what I hear or see but I cannot always do this. It can be hard to keep your opinions to yourself especially when it comes to such difficult topics. After some of these cases, I can see why victims do not always feel confident when they report abuse. And why mental health is so wrapped up in the court systems.
​
I think my impression of the court system has changed because all I knew before was what I would see on TV shows. However, what goes on in real life is very different than what happens on TV. There have even been instances where lawyers tell the jury this. In real life not everything is exciting. A lot of the day is paperwork and mundane cases. That being said, the work is powerful and essential to our democracy.
​