Just City and the Memphis Court System has been designed with Just City’s Court Watch Program to provide students with an opportunity to learn about and engage with the legal system in the United States. Students are trained to conduct courtroom observation, in order to document, organize, and report on what is happening inside local courtrooms. Students learn how to notetaker and report “on the decisions, words, and actions” of individuals inside the courtroom, including ”judges, attorneys, prosecutors, accusers, [law enforcement], and those accused of crimes.”
Students are required to commit to a three-hour Court Watch block (Court Watch Practicum) one morning a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday). Students should be prepared to attend Court on their assigned day between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Students should plan for at least 30 minutes of travel time to and from Court.
Students may continue to Court Watch in subsequent semesters, by signing up for the practicum.
Students who complete one semester of PLAW 265 (Justice in the Courts) and one semester of PLAW 266 (Just City and the Memphis Court System, Practicum) will fulfill the F11; students who complete two semesters of PLAW 266 (Just City and the Memphis Court System, Practicum) will fulfill the F11.
This course should be pass/fail.