Since we are interested in the Superior Court system, juniors Trevor York, David Casuga and I were asked to sit in several court cases, preceding a scheduled interview with California Superior Court Judge Hilary A. Chittick, Oct. 6. We arrived in downtown Fresno at 8 a.m. to observe the California judicial system and regular court procedure.
Upon entrance into the courthouse, we were searched and asked to send our bags through an X-ray machine while we walked through a metal detector. The foyer was greatly congested with people, from police officers and security guards to attorneys and their clients. Attendees waited diligently in front of each elevator; ours had little breathing room, and mysterious odors diffused throughout the tight space.
Department B2 was dimly lit, and had no appearances or scents that made the courtroom attractive. What seemed to be about 30 spectators of the hearing sat to the left of the double doorway. We settled down amid the onlookers, but quickly found out they were the defendants of the hearings, which dealt with drug abuse, DUIs and possession of illegal narcotics.
Judge Bramer, arriving 45 minutes late, perched himself in his chair and utilized the full extent of his authority. He proceeded with roll call, and to our surprise, many of the defendants came in late or failed to appear in court altogether. All the accused present had neglected their rehabilitation meetings and occasional drug tests, so the judge’s sternness and lack of mercy toward them seemed justified when he yelled at a defendant, ?You haven?t done squat.”
After two hearings we left the basement for Department 45 to observe a burglary trial. When entering the courtroom, multiple people gave us suspicious looks. Although the three of us joked that the reason was my lack of formalwear, we concluded that their confused glances were due to the fact that we were the only spectators and also were quite young.
It took a while before we fully understood the information and the relevance of the evidence, since we had entered without having any background information on the case. An elderly man dressed in an olive-colored sports jacket and a Southern bolo tie was asked to testify before the jury. Unfortunately, his claim seemed irrelevant and overly zealous toward the gospel. Shortly following, the witness said the courtroom was a vessel of evil, and was eventually led out of the room.
Our final case involved the robbery of an ampm convenience store in downtown Fresno. This case appeared the most professional out of all the cases because the defense attorney continually called “objection” to most questions, reminding us of serious court scenes from movies. Unlike the last suit, with much evidence, such as the actual 911 emergency call and stolen items, this case?s events appeared circumstantial and inconclusive. After discussing our observations, we remained confused about the robber’s course of action.
About an hour in our last case, we departed for our scheduled interview with Judge Chittick. We entered her courtroom with more poise and experience, as this was our fourth entry of the day. An officer asked for our ID cards and school’s name, then exited out the door we had previously seen the judge and attorneys use in earlier courtrooms. The officer returned shortly, then led us into a long hallway and into her office.
Judge Chittick’s office resembled a stereotypical official’s office, with floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled with hundreds of books, each about a different case held in California. A large and stocky wood desk was set in front of a massive window and a glass table was placed to the right of the room, surrounded by three dark leather chairs.
York began the interview with Judge Chittick after a short introduction. We learned about the duties of a judge and the long and strenuous process of entering the court system. When we first began our conversation with the judge, I was expecting her to fit the persona of a stolid and apathetic judge portrayed in movies.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to find she loved her job and was more interested in justice and “doing the right thing” than in making money and taking vacations. After hearing her enthusiasm for her profession, I fully realized that our judicial system is run by people like Judge Chittick who dedicate their lives to justice.
After an hour-long meeting, our trip to the courthouse was complete. All in all, the experience brought us closer together as friends, while educating us on the court system. The experience of observing a real court hearing and having had a personal interview with a judge created a memorable experience that we will not forget.
For more information on the downtown courthouse, visit the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno.
Trevor York also contributed to this article.
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