You can observe court proceedings by looking up the case on the court’s public docket, going to the courthouse at the scheduled time (or joining a remote link if the court offers one), passing through security, and sitting quietly in the public gallery. Most hearings in the United States are open to anyone who wants to walk in. The rules that matter for observers are practical: how to find the right courtroom, what you can bring, and how to behave once you’re inside.
Your Right to Attend
The public’s right to attend criminal trials is grounded in both the Sixth Amendment, which guarantees the accused a public trial, and the First Amendment, which the Supreme Court has read to give the rest of us a right of access. In Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia (1980), the Court held that “the right to attend criminal trials is implicit in the guarantees of the First Amendment.”1Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center. Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, 448 U.S. 555 (1980) That right extends beyond the trial itself to pretrial hearings, motions to suppress evidence, and jury selection. A judge can close a proceeding only by identifying an overriding interest and showing the closure is narrowly tailored to serve it.2Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center. Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court of California, 478 U.S. 1 (1986)
In practice, this means you don’t need permission, a press pass, or a reason to attend. You walk in, sign in if the courthouse requires it, and take a seat.
Proceedings You Can’t Watch
A handful of proceedings are routinely closed, and knowing which ones saves you a wasted trip.
- Grand jury sessions are closed by rule. Only government attorneys, the witness being questioned, interpreters, and a court reporter may be present during testimony, and only jurors may be present during deliberations.3Cornell Law Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 6 – The Grand Jury
- Juvenile delinquency proceedings are restricted or fully closed in most states, with rules that vary widely.
- Sealed cases involving trade secrets, classified information, or certain family court matters may be closed by judicial order, sometimes along with the filings themselves.
- A judge can close a specific hearing to protect a witness, preserve an undercover officer’s identity, or safeguard a defendant’s fair-trial rights, but only with specific findings on the record.2Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center. Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court of California, 478 U.S. 1 (1986)
If you’re turned away, ask why. You can note the reason (or the absence of one) and move on to another proceeding.
Finding the Hearing You Want to Watch
Effective observation starts before you leave home. You want the defendant’s name, the case number, the type of hearing, the courtroom number, the assigned judge, and the scheduled time.
For federal cases, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system lets anyone search for cases filed in any federal court. PACER charges $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document, and fees are waived entirely if your quarterly charges total $30 or less.4Public Access to Court Electronic Records. Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) Most casual observers stay well under the free threshold.
State and local courts run their own online portals. Quality varies. Some post full daily calendars with hearing times and charges; others list little more than names and courtroom numbers. Check the site in advance, and if it isn’t useful, the clerk’s office can point you to the right courtroom when you arrive.
Bring a prepared observation form with the case details already filled in. Once the hearing starts, your attention should be on the room, not on your paperwork.
Getting Into the Courthouse
Every courthouse has a security checkpoint with metal detectors and X-ray machines. Weapons, knives, pepper spray, lighters, and sharp objects are prohibited everywhere. Some buildings also restrict aerosol cans, laser pointers, and large metal belt buckles. If you bring something that isn’t allowed, you’ll usually be sent back out to secure it before re-entering, because most courthouses don’t offer a place to check items.
The cleanest approach is to travel light: a notebook, a pen, your ID, and your observation form.
Cell phone rules are inconsistent. Federal courts have no uniform policy. Some allow phones inside if silenced; others bar the public from bringing phones past security at all.5United States Courts. Portable Communication Devices in Courthouses Check the specific court’s rule before you go. If you can’t find it, assume your phone stays in the car.
How to Behave in the Courtroom
Dress the way you would for a job interview. Skip hats (unless worn for religious or medical reasons), sunglasses, offensive graphics, shorts, and tank tops. Judges have discretion to remove anyone whose appearance they consider disrespectful.
Sit in the gallery behind the bar, the railing that separates the public seating from the well of the courtroom. Once the session begins, stay silent. No whispering, no shuffling seats, no rustling papers. Take notes on paper.
Recording is the one absolute rule. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53 flatly prohibits photographing or broadcasting judicial proceedings from a federal courtroom.6Justia. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 53 – Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited Most state courts have similar prohibitions, and a few allow cameras only under specific conditions. Unless the court has told you otherwise, assume audio, video, and photography are all off-limits. Even where phones are permitted in the building, using one during a proceeding without written permission risks having it confiscated.
A spectator who disrupts a courtroom is subject to the same contempt power that applies to everyone else in the room. Federal courts can punish misbehavior in their presence with a fine, imprisonment, or both, and because contempt can be handled summarily, the judge doesn’t need a separate hearing to impose sanctions on the spot.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 401 – Power of Court The rules to avoid trouble are simple. Stay quiet, don’t record, silence your phone, and follow instructions from the bailiff or judge immediately.
Watching Remotely
Many federal courts now offer live public audio for certain civil and bankruptcy proceedings where no witness is testifying, and each circuit decides independently whether to broadcast appellate arguments.8United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings A growing number of state courts publish links or dial-in numbers for hearings as well, particularly since virtual proceedings expanded during the pandemic.
When you join a remote hearing, keep your microphone muted and your camera off. Use a neutral screen name that doesn’t feed personal information into the record. The prohibition on recording applies in remote settings too. Screenshots, screen recordings, and captured audio are treated the same as recording in person.
Remote access is easy, but it’s a weaker tool for careful observation. Audio-only feeds strip out body language and courtroom dynamics. You can’t tell whether an interpreter is struggling or whether a defendant looks confused. For serious monitoring, being in the room still matters.
Observing as Part of a Court Watch Program
One person taking notes is useful. A trained group of volunteers using standardized forms and publishing findings is more useful. Court watch programs recruit observers, train them, and compile the data into reports that go to judges, the media, and advocacy groups.
Observers typically track both objective data (hearing length, whether an interpreter was provided, bail amounts, sentences) and subjective assessments (whether the judge listened, whether the defendant appeared to understand, how court staff treated people). The reports can identify a judge who consistently sets disproportionate bail, flag a courtroom where defendants routinely appear without counsel at first appearance, or document how long people wait for a two-minute hearing. Some of the value shows up in the reports; some shows up in the behavior of judges who know trained observers are in the room.
Most programs focus on a specific area: bail and pretrial detention, domestic violence dockets, immigration proceedings, or sentencing disparities. If you want to participate, look for court monitoring programs in your area. Many accept volunteers with no legal background and provide the training you need.