Courtwatching: Holding “Justice” Accountable
Author: Ayane Chiang
A defendant stands in an empty courtroom–no press, public observers, or family–just the judge, prosecutor, and an overworked public defender. He’s being accused of a murder that he didn’t commit. No solid evidence has been provided, just unsure eyewitnesses and stories that don’t add up. Nonetheless, the judge delivers a life sentence in under 10 minutes. Had someone been there to question authority, hold law-makers accountable, or document the bias that had just occurred, outcomes may have been different.
Injustice happens in empty courtrooms. Every day in the United States, thousands of trials take place across the country, with decisions by the judge often being made within minutes and with little information. This lack of transparency, for many people, can result in life-long consequences that stem from bias, injustice, or even misinformation.
Issues within the courtroom such as racism, sexism, or bias against minority groups often lead to unparalleled consequences towards targeted defendants. The U.S. Sentencing Commission notes in 2023 that “Black males received sentences 13.4 percent longer, and Hispanic males received sentences 11.2 percent longer, than White males” (U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2023). Bias is often a factor involved with many jurisdictions which disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Hearings may last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, and such decisions made with little information can severely hinder their ability to be adequately represented. A specific case involves Kalief Browder, who was arrested for being accused of beating up a man and stealing his backpack. From his arrest, Kalief was put in jail for 3 years in Rikers Island Jail, enduring around 700 days of solitary confinement. After being proved innocent, Kalief’s chargers were dropped, but committed suicide from the immense psychological torture endured during his time in confinement. Kalief’s case is an unforgettable reminder that the justice system is deeply flawed–ordinary people like us must fight to stand against the system of iniquity.
The American Bar Association emphasizes that “the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives the public and press a right of access to court proceedings, while the Sixth Amendment gives individuals facing criminal charges the right to a public trial” (American Bar Association, 2023). When regular individuals go to court watch in trials, judges and other legal professionals are held accountable for every word, action, and decision they make. Such a simple act as showing up can mean life or death for someone else, and is ingrained in the making of our nation.
Organizations such as Courtwatch PG or Courtwatch LA train regular individuals on how to courtwatch and show up to document what they see. By “presenting observations and findings to policymakers and the public . . . [to] drive reform” (American Bar Association, 2023), courtwatchers can directly challenge political and societal oppression. Specifically, oppression against minority groups such as African Americans, the LGBTQ+ community, indigenous groups, or women can all be combated with voices from all over the country fighting back against an unjust system and courtroom. Past trials have proved that courtwatching can directly impact our legal system today. Today, there is even a place for youth to stand up and fight against injustices within our courtroom. Organizations like Justice For All promote high school and college students to be civically engaged, documenting their findings in court and creating a brighter, more equitable future together.
The legal system holds immense power within our world today, and we never know who its next target may be. But we have the power to stop this. Coming together as a community obligates our judicial system to take accountability for their decisions so that we can truly strive towards a more equitable future.
Sources:
ABA Court Watching. (n.d.). Www.americanbar.org. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_aid_indigent_defense/indigent_defense_systems_improvement/court-watching0/aba-court-watching/
Court-Watching Programs: Purpose and Progress. (2023). Americanbar.org. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/court-watching-programs-purpose-progress/
Kevin. (2024, February 27). How Long Does Court Hearing Last? CasePacer. https://casepacer.com/resources/how-long-does-court-hearing-last
Keyser, M. (2022, August 10). Arnold Ventures | He Spent 1,100 Days in Rikers Island a Legally…. Arnold Ventures. https://www.arnoldventures.org/stories/he-spent-1-100-days-in-rikers-island-a-legally-innocent-man-his-story-changed-new-yorks-bail-laws
United States Sentencing Commission. (2023, November 14). 2023 Demographic Differences in Federal Sentencing. United States Sentencing Commission; United States Sentencing Commission. https://www.ussc.gov/research/research-reports/2023-demographic-differences-federal-sentencing
