Humanities

Court Excursion

As part of the Legal Issues and You Be the Judge Civics subjects, students visited the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to see a real court in action. Below are some of the reflections that Baha, Brandi, Ella N, Ella T, Jannat, Maddy, Rhys and Sterling had to share.

What did you enjoy the most?

• I quite liked how intense it felt in the room.
• I enjoyed watching how the different cases proceeded.
• I enjoyed listening to all the court cases and how the defence lawyers spoke.
• I enjoyed sitting where the magistrate sits.
• I enjoyed pretending to be a defence lawyer.
• I enjoyed sitting in the jury box.
• I enjoyed talking to the magistrate about her job.

What did you learn?

• I learnt that cases can go quite quickly.
• I learnt that it’s not always scary in court.
• I learnt that we had to stand up when the magistrate entered and left the courtroom to be respectful.
• I learnt that the court can video chat with the accused during the case.
• I learnt that the accused can sit in a clear box in the back of the courtroom.
• I learnt that some magistrates are nice.
• I learnt that some cops aren’t that bad.

Photo 1: Some You Be the Judge students outside of the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

Photo 2: Rhys sitting where the magistrate sits.

Photo 3: Cammille and Dylan pretending to be part of the court process.