Advanced Criminal Justice, Class 22, Period 1, 03.30.06

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Still more relatively light stuff. Still more likely non-respondiness at work. Class Info Post.]

"Hello, class! Today we'll be talking about one of the most important figures in the Justice System: The Judge."

"The judge is the Mayor of Justice City. He tells the police they can arrest an evildoer, referees the trials that determine if a person is innocent or guilty, looks off to the side when a superhero causes minor property damage while fighting The Good Fight, and looks keen in a snazzy black robe. The judge is, simply put, the guy to be!"

"Judges get to be judges by being keen lawyers first. If they do their job and impress people enough, they can upgrade from their position as mild-mannered attorneys to become Kings of the Justice Hill!"

"Once you are a judge, it's your right and responsibility to look at the law and make decisions based on it. So while they wield a lot of power, they also have to be careful about using it because it can be used as precedent."

"Today, I'd like you to just talk about judges and the court system a bit. Also be sure to take a little bit of time to work with your group! Your project is due Tuesday!"

Comments

Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

For class and non-class discussion.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel took notes. It might be noticed that he was wearing a shirt that was not the norm for him (http://psycho-barbie.livejournal.com/26653.html?thread=498461#t498461).

At Prof. Tick's prompting, he said, "My problem with this is that it relies pretty heavily on lawyers."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

The Tick saw Angel's shirt and smiled. "Lawyers, for better or for worse, are a part of the system. Only a lawyer so good that they can rise above the position would know how best to keep lawyers in check."

"Also, I appreciate your enthusiasm for arts & crafts! It's good to see people taking in interest!"

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"What?" Angel blinked down at himself. "Oh. Yeah. Callisto got it for me. Know what they say: the couple that scrapbooks together has a real good time."

Oddly, of all the things Angel had done in his life using double entendres around Prof. Tick felt like the one thing that absolutely guaranteed he'd be going to Hell.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[fh_jackass]

Logan snickered at Angel's t-shirt.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel grinned.

He flicked a note to Logan.

Gift from Cal.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"So if a guilty person is let off the hook, the judge is the one to blame?"

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes, when a judge calls an unfair trial. But mostly that's because one team of lawyers just plain presents their case better. A judge can't control that."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"So we blame the lawyers then?"

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I think judges have an important position in the court system, one I wouldn't want to take up myself because wow, responsibility. I think it's a lot easier to be superhero and stop evil from happening than it is to decide what sort of punishment people deserve," Cameron says. If you look closely, you might still be able to make out the word dork! on his forehead.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"That's why I'm a superhero," Tick said. "And why I don't run many denentions."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[fates_jaye]

"The judges on Crime and Justice suck a lot," Jaye points out.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Interesting point, Jaye!"

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[can_be_more]

Aeryn doesn't actually have any experience with judges, so she's a little quiet. And glarey. Okay, a lot glarey.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"The Supreme Court back home seems to work the same way as what you're describing," Anakin said. "Does your Chancellor seem to exert some heavy influence on their decisions as well?"

He frowned, deep in thought. "The Chancellor says that he only does it when there is a matter of great precedence--sometimes the twelve justices can't come to a decision that doesn't end in a deadlock--but my old teacher says that executive interference in itself is setting a dangerous precedent."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[fh_jackass]

"Theoretically, the Supreme Court here is supposed to be free of political influences," Logan said. "But they all owe their position to someone in politics." He shrugged. "Everyone's a little corrupt."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Logan is right. The courts, both Supreme and lower, are technically out of political control. Each court answers to the courts higher than it, with the Supreme Court only influenced by the President when he nominates someone for the job."

"Recently, courts have seemed to be ruling in opposition to the President's views, actually."

The Tick was more current on national news than might be expected.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie really only has one question today. "Do modern judges still have to wear those silly wigs?"

[OOC: This would be because Archie-mun is feeling kinda blechy.]

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Not in America. I'm not sure about other countries, though."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica leaned over and whispered, "They don't wear pink frilly hats."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's thinking of how many judges the Centre probably owns, and says, "But you can never be completely sure about them, can you? Which is why the jury is so important."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Very true. Just as a Mayor's ultimate power rests in the hands of their voters, and an umpire must respect the rulings of the leagure and what drunk people yell at him, the jury is the ultimate power in the courtroom. But the judge does get to filter what the jury knows."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory was very quiet as she watched the discussion today because her mun had the DAY FROM HELL and it involved white satin dresses and tulle omgwtf.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Mild mannered?" Sam started giggling. "Not hardly. Most attorneys I know will argue about what kind of syrup to put on their pancakes, let alone what's best for their client."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 22]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Metaphorically mild-mannered, Sam!"