Notes

Fact witnesses provide details about the specific circumstances in a case. For example, a fact witness who was at the scene of a hit-and-run could testify as to the make and model of the car.
Expert witnesses, on the other hand, provide insight into a case by sharing their expert knowledge of a subject based on their training and experience. For instance, a ballistics expert may tell the jury what kind of gun was used in a crime.

the qualified wheel—those individuals who are eligible to serve on the jury—can be determined.

There are other groups of people who are prohibited from serving on a jury. These include active members of the military; members of the police force and fire departments; as well as public officers in the state, local, or federal governments.

the selection process for jurors is an extremely important one. The process begins by summoning potential jurors by sending them a questionnaire via mail. Names of potential jurors are randomly chosen from voter registration lists or, sometimes, by drivers’ lists.

- Did you know that eight federal judges have been impeached and convicted by Congress?

Code of Conduct for United States Judges. This code requires that judges recuse themselves from a case if there is any reason to believe they may be biased toward one party over another.

Article III of the Constitution dictates that federal judges serve for life, but they can be impeached and convicted for misbehavior.

Federal judges like judges on the Supreme Court, US Court of Appeals, and US district courts are appointed rather than elected. These judges are first nominated by the President of the United States and then confirmed by the United States Senate.

Each state is unique in the way that it fills state and local judiciary seats. Three of the most common ways are:
Partisan Elections
This is the most commonly known type of judicial election. Judges are elected by the voters and candidates are listed on the ballot alongside a label that indicates which political party they are connected to.
Nonpartisan Elections
This is similar to the partisan election. However, candidates are listed on the ballot without a political party designation.
Legislative Elections
Judges are selected not by the people directly but by the state legislature.

Judicial independence is the ability of courts and judges to perform their duties free of control by governmental or private influencers. It is important because it empowers judges to make just decisions, even if they are unpopular ones, without the threat of losing their jobs or livelihoods.

Judicial impartiality requires that judges must not allow their personal feelings or biases to affect the decisions they make in the courtroom. Nor should they be influenced by politics, the other branches of government, or popular opinion.

To qualify, jurors must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Be a resident of the judicial area and have lived there for at least a year
Be fluent in English
Be mentally and physically capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of a juror

Judges do have other responsibilities, however. Some of these include:

Interpreting the law
Imposing sentences
Issuing subpoenas
Allowing or denying evidence
Instructing the jury

Imagine you were accused of committing a crime and had to face a trial. Now, imagine that no one in the courtroom is speaking your language. You may feel like you’re at a bit of a disadvantage to say the least! That’s why criminal defendants who speak a language other than English are entitled to a courtroom interpreter. In a criminal case, a courtroom interpreter must translate everything that is said in the courtroom word-for-word. The interpreter is not allowed to summarize a speaker’s words, comment on them, or even clarify them for the non-English speaker. This is to prevent the message from becoming distorted, or “lost in translation.”

The court reporter also plays an important role in a court proceeding, though it is often overlooked. By typing every word that is spoken during a hearing or trial, a court reporter creates an official record of the proceedings. This record is important for a variety of reasons. For example, juries may refer to the official record of a trial when attempting to come to a verdict. In criminal cases, having access to exactly what was said by whom is vitally important, especially when someone’s life or liberty is on the line.

Woman checks the notes made on her court reporter typewriter as she types on her laptop, translating the transcript.
The court reporter is responsible for documenting every word spoken, creating a written transcript of the trial.

Court records also play an important part of the appeals process. Before an appellate court will hear a case, they must review the record of the original trial. Attorneys may also use court records of past trials to prepare their cases

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The People of the Court