Community Contributor

Going to the Courts with your school is a serious matter. A Court building is a workplace and some people may be having a very stressful day. It is important you know the appropriate behaviour and security protocol before coming to the courts.

Are YOU Ready For A Day At The Courts?

Your phone must be switched off fully when in the court buildings. The Court Security Act 2005 states that a person is prohibited from transmitting or receiving any recorded sound, images or content in a courtroom or in the vicinity of the courtroom. If you get caught you could be fined or imprisoned!!

Your phone must be switched off and put away

Can I use my mobile phone while sitting in a Courtroom?  


Security at the courts is important and not something to joke about. You will not be allowed to bring any sharps or aerosols through security. You may however write notes or any questions on a piece of paper and then discuss them with your teacher after you have left the court building.

Pen and paper

You may not eat in the courtrooms. You may sip water quietly in the courtroom. There are usually couches and spaces outside the courtroom where you can eat your morning tea or lunch.

Water

What can I consume whilst sitting in the Courtroom?

To show respect for the Courts and judicial system, you need to bow to the Coat of Arms above the judge/magistrate as you enter the courtroom. If you are not respectful, the judicial or court officers may ask you to leave. 
If you are sitting in the courtroom when the judicial officer enters, stand quietly and wait for the judicial officer to reach their chair and then bow to the them. You can sit down after the judicial officer is seated.

Bow respectfully to the judicial officer

What do I do when I walk into a Courtroom?

Being respectful in court entails being quiet. The parties in the room are often dealing with serious matters. To limit disruptions, you should not leave a courtroom less than 15 min from the time you entered.

Sit quietly and listen

What do I do whilst sitting in a Courtroom?

Courtrooms can be a highly stressful environment for everyone involved in the matter. You may encounter victims, offenders and their family. You will see real cases that involve real people and it can be very traumatic for those involved. Please do not discuss, point, laugh or make comments about those involved in the matter whilst in the court building. Remember they may be very stressed and you do not know how they will react to your comments.

Judge Judy

The rule of law means that every member of society, both citizens and those in power, is subject to the law. It is spelled out in our Constitution and ensures those in power act in accordance with the law. The rule of law is an essential part of our legal system and is why we have the most robust and respected legal system throughout the world.

Everyone is equal before the law

Why do they say Australia operates under the rule of law?

To ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law, the independence of judiciary is needed where the Courts are independent, impartial, open and transparent to provide a fair and efficient trial. All people are presumed to be innocent and are entitles to remain silent and not incriminate themselves. Finally, government agencies must act within the law and be model litigants and not overuse their size or power in litigations. 
Without these working to support the rule of law, people have no trust in the law resulting in lawlessness and anarchy.

Pursuit of happiness

What is not an essential principle of the rule of law?

Jabba the Court avoider is a large, slug-like alien known as a Court avoider who, like many others of his species, operates outside the rule of law. Thinking the laws do not apply to you, you are a powerful crime lord within the galaxy and will soon face the justice that comes from the Australian legal system.

Jabba the Court Avoider

Luke Courtwalker is a Tatooine schoolchild who rose from humble beginnings in year 7 to become one of the greatest Court Visitors the galaxy has ever known. Along with your friends, you watched justice in action, discovered the truth of the rule of law, and learnt that no one is above the law, not even Yoda of the Courts.

Luke Courtwalker

Yoda of the Courts is a legendary Court Visiting Master and stronger than most in his connection with the rule of law. Small in size but wise and powerful, you trained at your school for over ten years, playing integral roles in the Commerce or Legal studies, the instruction of Luke Courtwalker of the Courts, and unlocking the path to the legal processes of Australia.

Are YOU Ready For A Day At The Courts?

Share This Article

BuzzFeed Quizzes