Dumbarton Court Trip
Fraser McKechnie
One of the lesser known bonuses of taking Modern Studies in third year is the trip to the Dumbarton Sheriff Court. The Sheriff Court is only half an hour away from the school and is well worth a visit if you get the chance, with the school or not. The building itself was built in 1824, however the interior has obviously changed and now boasts a more modern look, in line with most other government buildings. Inside the building there are two different types of courtroom, the larger trial courts and the smaller sentencing courts. In a trial court people are tried and are either found to be guilty or not guilty. Once convicted they are given a sentencing date. On this date they come back to the court and stand in front of the sheriff to be given their punishment. It was this type of court that I got to see in session during my time there.
After arriving at the court we were shown into a small courtroom where the sheriff came to speak to us about what his job involves and a little bit about who we would be seeing in the courtroom. He explained that he sits at the top of the court and the procurator fiscal (prosecutor) and the defence sit just below him, along with the rules of the courtroom (no speaking, food or drink, etc.) and even a small talk about why they wear their wigs and gowns. If you’re wondering, it’s because it makes them stand out and shows authority over others in the courtroom.
Possibly the thing I enjoyed most about the courthouse was the way that each and every person was not just a number on a spreadsheet. When giving out the sentences the sheriff paid very close attention to the defence reading out his client’ s backstory and made sure he made an informed decision on what is not only best for the community and the person on trial, but also for the families and friends around them.