Is the civil procedure open to public in the US?
I want to know if the civil trials are held in front of an audience...i mean, people are able to watch as in criminal procedures? It's the civil process public? Thanx!
Answers:
Civil procedures are open to the public. Quite often the only ones interested are the litigants and associated people. We might have a better court system if potential jurors were required to attend a trial before being impaneled. At least they would know what to expect. As a juror you are supposed to keep an open mind throughout the trial and make your decisions in the jury room, but you can really be thrown a curve with the final instructions when they tell you all the things you didn't hear that you did hear, etc.
Yes but in some higher profile cases you will need to register to watch. The registration just limits the number of people to the number of seats available.
Almost always. Just like in criminal trials where there are exceptional circumstances (like the criminal is charged with disclosing government secrets), there are exceptional cases where the courtroom may be closed (because the parties are disclosing trade secret information, etc.) There are also classes of cases where the courtroom is usually closed -- like Family law and juvenile matters (to protect minors' identity).
But otherwise you can just stroll in and watch. You may be the only person in the gallery, and the court may ask who you are and what you're doing, but you have the right to say "just observing the process."
The answers post by the user, for information only, FreeLawAnswer.com does not guarantee the right.
Answer question:
More Law Questions and Answers: