A Day in the Life: Missing Steps & Unanswered Questions
In class, we were tasked with a “day in the life” exercise.
Each group was to map out the court case day for different parties – landlord,
tenant, lawyer and courthouse staff. We tried to go through each step that the
person would take on the day of a court case, including as much description as
possible.
The landlord and tenant steps were very similar as they arrived
at the courthouse with the struggle of figuring out where to go.
The lawyer’s steps started much earlier with the gathering of paperwork, evidence and scheduling a place to meet the landlord or tenant when they arrived at the courthouse. The steps that a staff member took was simple and fluid as they walked through their routine that they followed daily.
The lawyer’s steps started much earlier with the gathering of paperwork, evidence and scheduling a place to meet the landlord or tenant when they arrived at the courthouse. The steps that a staff member took was simple and fluid as they walked through their routine that they followed daily.
As a class, we understood only the basis of each person’s
day. We struggled to fill in the gaps and answer questions – what to bring with
us? where do we go when we get inside? do we need forms or payments? how long
will I be in the courthouse? what do I say and where do I stand in the
courtroom?
I imagine that the questions we had are ones very similar to
the ones that landlords, tenants and sometimes even lawyers have. They process
of preparing for and going to court is a complicated, intense, yet unexplained
process.
People struggle with understanding the process - from the
posting of an eviction notice to filing paperwork at the courthouse to know
which side to stand on in the courtroom, there isn’t much advice or direction.
There are descriptions online, organizations that assist in helping people and
amenities at the courthouse that help people through the process. However, this
aid is not known to all and is sometimes difficult to find.
I believe that the unanswered questions that we encounter
are the potential areas for improvement in the court process. This includes the
layout, signage and staff members in the courthouse as well as the assistance
that they offer like the Court Service Center, Clerk Office and Lawyer of the
Day. I think that further exploring these programs, as well as outside
organizations will give us more insight on how and where improvement has the
most potential to happen.
[Mykaela Scarpace]