Injustices Only Happen in Empty Courtrooms

The Power of Court Watching

Prevent Injustices in the Courtroom

Each day that goes by where court watchers are not present, those with power in the courtroom, from prosecutors to judges, have the opportunity to take advantage of defendants. Unfortunately, marginalized communities are often taken advantage of in the Courtroom.

Thankfully, when court watchers are present, these injustices are less likely to happen in the first place. If they do, we are ready to take action to ensure that those in the courtroom act fairly and impartially. It is vital to infuse community into the courtroom.

Testimonials

Justice For All’s court-watching internship was an incredibly engaging and eye-opening experience. Watching lawyers argue for their clients was both fascinating and educational, giving me a deeper understanding of how the justice system operates—and its flaws. I highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in justice or advocacy—it’s a meaningful and rewarding way to learn while gaining valuable insights.

Sparsha Shashidhar - Freshman at Khan Lab School

I was intrigued by the diverse fields of law that the court watches encompassed and enjoyed the program’s flexibility which aligned well with my busy schedule as a college student. I also especially enjoyed the monthly Intern Bonding Meetings of the Program where we had the opportunity to reflect on all the things we learned and gained new insights while getting to know other interns! Overall, it was great to get an insider’s view into the field of law! 

 Kat Triantafyllou - Freshman at Washington University in St. Louis

Court-watching was something that never caught wind of my attention until this program. By reading court cases, witnessing court proceedings, and understanding how our nation's justice system works, JFA's internship has opened my eyes to what I can do in the legal field in the future. The best part about their internship is that court watching isn't an individual obligation, but rather can be done together with other interns! If there was a place to start looking regarding law, JFA's internship is the best place to start. 

James Nguyen - Junior at Advanced Technologies Academy

FAQs

  • "Courtwatching" refers to the practice of citizens actively observing court proceedings to monitor the legal system, often with the goal of identifying potential injustices, holding judges and legal professionals accountable, and advocating for reforms by documenting what they see in courtrooms; essentially, it's a form of grassroots activism aimed at increasing transparency within the judicial system.

  • The best way to get involved with court watching is to apply for our court watching internship programs. Justice For All has curated a program to allow young students to court watch cases, and provides all resources needed. For more information on how to apply, please visit the “Get Involved” portion of the website.

  • While some activities require access to a digital device, such as intern meetings, case calendars, and newsletters etc, ALL cases are in person in the Bay Area to maximize the impact and experience of court watching.

  • If you are accepted, congratulations and welcome to the cohort! While responsibilities may vary from cohort to cohort, you are expected to attend at least two cases per month. Due to school commitments, we typically send volunteers to court in the afternoon. During these cases, you are to respectfully observe the court and take notes, indicating if any irregular or unfair processes are going on in the courtroom. After court-watching, interns are expected to fill out a report form, documenting what they watched in court. More detailed and comprehensive information can be found on our court watch training handbook, which is released to accepted interns only.