On June 25, King County Superior Court sponsored two full-day orientation and tour sessions for law students, summer law firm interns and other professionals interested in getting an “insider’s view” of the court and its operations. A session was held in Kent at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center; the other took place in the King County Courthouse in Seattle. A total of 55 registrants attended the two sessions.
Among the day’s events were introductory remarks given by Presiding Judge Bruce Hilyer and RJC Chief Judge Brian Gain, and presentations on the court’s civil and criminal departments, clerk’s office, family court operations, ex parte, the jail and prosecuting attorney’s office. Participants also viewed juror orientation sessions provided by the judges.
Attendees were briefed on the court’s daily calendar and then were encouraged to observe several trials and court hearings over the course of the afternoon. Both sessions wrapped up with a Q&A session with a Superior Court judge.
Post-session evaluations indicated that the attendees found the court observation sessions particularly useful. The Court plans to provide similar orientation sessions next summer.
Court proceedings are open to the public with rare exception; students and others interested in gaining additional information about the court in operation are encouraged to observe trials and various other court calendars in order to gain a better understanding of the Court’s daily activities.
Daily calendars are updated twice daily and are posted on the Web at http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/superiorcourt.aspx. Hard copies of the calendar also are available at the courthouses.
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