On 4/27/23 , I visited The United States Eastern District New York federal court located in Brooklyn.

My experience in the court house began with a brief walk from NYC college of technology, just two short blocks across Tillary street. Once we arrived at the federal courthouse I was instantly taken by its architectural beauty. The interiors clean white marble floors, walls and ceiling coincided with the many levels of terraces lined with offices felt like I was walking into Olympus where the gods reside. I was immediately greeted by the federal officers who secured the courthouse. After successfully getting through security clearance, I was directed  to the first case I would be observing.
The first courthroom I entered into was already in session. A trial was already underway with a judge sitting in the chair, observing everything that happened in the courtroom.  I noticed the large courtroom filled with many people. I noticed a gentleman in the witnessstand, explaining his expertise and value information obtaining to the case. I observed a prosecutor standing before the witness, and the judge, at a microphone asking questions obtaining to the case. I saw a table before that prosecutor outlined with his colleagues and coworkers. Just a few short steps away I noticed a second table, which appeared to be the defendant lined with his legal team. Seated to the far wall slightly elevated on rows of desk like cubicles I saw the jury. This federal offense seemed to have taken place at JFK international airport. I heard the witness answer and discussed his knowledge of the security access check points and the airport’s cameras system. The witness answers the prosecution’s questions before the court about how the airports track security access points and who accesses them. This case was very interesting even though I could only briefly attend that proceeding as I had another court observation to attend.

my second court observation was just a few steps across the hall from my previous proceeding. As I entered the quart room, I immediately felt a dark ominous tone in the atmosphere. I noticed an extremely tall Gentleman who was the prosecution stood at a microphoned podium facing the judge. The judge sat above the courtroom watching. Next I notice in the witness stand a gentleman who appeared extremely uncomfortable and anxious. The witness for my entire court observation answered questions by the prosecutor about a shooting in New York City in 2019.The prosecutor in the witness discussed gang activity and violence that led them to the trial I was observing. While the witnesses answered incriminating questions about his friends and associates, set a very expressionless, and checked out defendant. Slightly to the right of the witness stand stood a post broad lined with photographs of young men including the defendant, the witness and several underground New York City rappers. The prosecution lowered a display screen, where the court presented to the jury, a music video as evidence.next the prosecution continued questioning the witness about shootings in gang activity.

this was my first time visiting the federal courthouse.This experience was very interesting on many levels. I was interested in the arguments of the prosecution, and I would love to have stayed and heard the defense of the defendants. Ultimately, the decision of the jury lies on how strong the prosecution proves the point and how well the defense can invalidate the prosecution as points. The fact that I actually witnessed a very interesting federal proceedings was very informal to me. This experience has made me interested in exploring the possibilities of legal reporting or journalism.