People in the Courtroom

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Courtrooms are set up differently depending on their purpose. Similarly, the people you’ll see in a courtroom will also be different, depending on what’s taking place in it.

Judge(s)

• Sits at the front of the courtroom, often on a raised platform (dais)
• Presides over the courtroom to ensure fair and efficient hearings
• Responsible for:
  • making sure rules are followed,
  • deciding whether to admit or not admit evidence
  • deciding guilt in a criminal trial (unless it’s a jury trial)
  • giving judgment in a civil or family trial
  • sentencing and awarding damages
  • determining whether there was a mistake in a lower court

Clerk

• Sits in front of the judge
• Opens and closes court (tells gallery to stand when judge enters and leaves)
• Marks exhibits
• Makes sure everything said in the trial courts is recorded
• Takes witnesses’ and jury members’ oaths
• Reads the charges and asks for plea of guilty or not guilty in Court of Queen’s Bench 

Lawyer

• Presents case for client in civil or family matters
• Presents case for the Crown or defence in criminal matters

Security (may be RCMP officers, Sheriffs or Deputy Sheriffs)

• Keep courtrooms safe
• Protect judges, accused, jury, court staff, public, etc.
• Enforce rules, such as:
  • no hats
  • no phones
  • no food or drink
  • no talking while court is in session

• Escort accused people who are in custody
• Conduct security screening at some court locations

Jurors

• Only in the case of a jury trial, which can only be held in Court of Queen’s Bench
• Members of the public selected at random
  • 12 in criminal case
  • 6 in civil case

• Listen to the evidence
• Render a verdict as a group

Youth workers/Legal Aid/Alternative Measures Representatives

• May be in the courtroom
• Available to help the accused and the court

Witness

• Answers lawyers’ questions in court about what they saw or know (gives evidence)

Interpreter

• Used when the accused or a witness does not understand English
• Translates what is being said

Social Worker

• Supports children or victims of crime while they are in court

News Media

• Attends court and reports to general public on events in court 

Members of the Public

• Courtrooms are almost always open to the public
• Individuals or groups can attend when convenient