Why are there many spectators at my trial on some days, and no spectators on other days?

 

A: During the course of your trial, the trial judge still needs to conference and meet with attorneys on other cases that are currently before the court. Lawyers must arrive at the courtroom in the morning in order to get a conference with the judge's law secretary or law clerk. While they are waiting to speak to the law clerk, they will often sit in the courtroom and observe what is happening on trial.

In addition, really smart trial lawyers  who are waiting for their cases to begin will often be found walking the halls of the courthouse to see what else is going on in other courtrooms. Going into other courtrooms  where the attorneys are on trial is one of the best ways to learn how to be a good trial lawyer. Not only will the attorney learn what to do, but importantly they will learn what mistakes not to make.

Gerry practices law exclusively in the State of New York. Within New York he practices primarily in the following counties: New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk. Technically, Brooklyn is known as "Kings County," and Manhattan and New York City are known as "New York County." Staten Island is known as "Richmond County." These counties make up the New York metropolitan area.