A courthouse is a government building where judges hear cases, juries deliberate, and legal disputes are resolved. Inside, you’ll find courtrooms, offices for judges and staff, and clerk’s counters where people file documents, pay fines, and look up records. Whether you’re reporting for jury duty, watching a hearing, filing a lawsuit, or picking up a certified copy of a divorce decree, the courthouse is where the justice system becomes a physical place you walk into.
What Happens Inside
Three things, mostly. Trials and hearings. Record-keeping. Jury service.
In the courtrooms, a judge presides over proceedings, rules on which evidence the jury can consider, and either decides the outcome or instructs jurors on the law so they can. Civil disputes, criminal prosecutions, family law matters, and bankruptcy cases all play out in these rooms. Most federal courtroom proceedings are open to the public, so you can walk in and watch.
Behind the courtrooms sits an enormous record-keeping operation. Every lawsuit filed, every motion submitted, and every judgment entered is logged and stored. The clerk’s office maintains those files and makes them available. If you need a certified copy of a judgment, a property lien, or a criminal disposition, that’s where you go.
Courts also pull citizens in for jury duty, selecting them at random from voter rolls and other records.1United States Courts. Juror Selection Process Most trials last only three to four days, though jurors often spend time waiting as cases settle or defendants plead on the morning of trial.2United States Courts. Jury Service: What to Expect When Answering the Call The jury’s job is to find the facts, apply the judge’s instructions, and reach a verdict.
Federal, State, and Specialized Courthouses
Not every courthouse hears the same kinds of cases. The U.S. court system splits between federal and state, and each operates its own buildings.
Federal courthouses handle cases involving the Constitution, federal statutes, or treaties.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 28 – 1331 Federal Question They also hear disputes between citizens of different states when the amount at stake exceeds $75,000,4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 28 – 1332 Diversity of Citizenship and bankruptcy cases fall under exclusive federal jurisdiction.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 28 – 1334 Bankruptcy Cases and Proceedings The federal system runs on three tiers: 94 U.S. district courts where cases start, 13 U.S. courts of appeals that review district court decisions, and the U.S. Supreme Court at the top.6United States Courts. Court Role and Structure
State courts handle the vast majority of legal disputes in the country. Criminal prosecutions under state law, personal injury suits, contract disputes, divorces, custody fights, and probate matters all land in state court. Local courthouses, sometimes called municipal or county courts, take the lower-level matters: traffic violations, misdemeanors, small claims, and local ordinance cases. These are the ones most people encounter first.
Many jurisdictions also run specialized courts. Family courts handle divorce, custody, and domestic violence cases. Probate courts deal with wills, estates, and guardianships. Drug courts, veterans’ courts, and mental health courts focus on rehabilitation for defendants with specific needs. Some operate inside a general-purpose courthouse; others have their own building.
Who Works There
A courthouse runs on the work of dozens of people besides the judge.
Judges preside over proceedings, rule on motions, decide what evidence is admissible, instruct juries on the law, and issue sentences or judgments. In bench trials, where there is no jury, the judge also decides the facts.
Court clerks are the administrative backbone. They manage case files, schedule hearings, swear in witnesses, process filings, and handle correspondence for the judge. The clerk’s office is where you go to file documents or ask about your case.
Bailiffs maintain order and security inside the courtroom, escort jurors, call cases, and enforce the judge’s rules for conduct.
Court reporters create a verbatim transcript of everything said during a proceeding. That transcript becomes the official record and is critical if either side appeals.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys argue the cases. In criminal matters, prosecutors represent the government and try to prove guilt, while defense attorneys represent the accused. In civil cases, each side brings its own attorney or represents itself.
Interpreters work in real time when a party or witness speaks a language other than English or has a hearing impairment. Federal law requires courts to provide them whenever the language barrier would interfere with understanding the proceedings or communicating with counsel.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 28 – 1827 Interpreters in Courts of the United States They’re bound by confidentiality, so anything you say privately to your lawyer through an interpreter stays privileged.
Looking Up Court Records
Court records are generally public, and there are several ways to see them.
In person, you can walk into any federal courthouse and view electronic case records at no charge.8PACER: Federal Court Records. PACER Pricing: How Fees Work State courthouses run their own systems, and most allow in-person inspection. Certified copies cost extra, with fees varying from a few dollars to over $30 per document depending on the jurisdiction.
Online, federal court records are searchable through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) at $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. If you spend $30 or less in a quarter, the fees are waived entirely.9United States Courts. Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule Court opinions are always free. State court systems often have their own portals, though coverage and cost vary.
Remote access to live proceedings is more limited. The public can listen to live audio of certain federal civil and bankruptcy proceedings when no witness is testifying, at the judge’s discretion. Criminal proceedings are off-limits for broadcast under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, so there’s no remote public access to criminal cases.10United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings Each federal appeals court decides independently whether to broadcast its own oral arguments.
What to Expect When You Visit
Every courthouse has a security checkpoint at the entrance. Expect a metal detector and an X-ray scan of your bags, much like airport security.11U.S. Marshals Service. What To Expect When Visiting a Courthouse Weapons of any kind are prohibited, including pocket knives. Cameras and recording devices are banned in many courthouses, and cell phones and pagers may be restricted too. If you bring a prohibited item, you’ll likely be turned away until you remove it, and most courthouses don’t offer storage. Leave anything you wouldn’t bring to an airport in your car or at home.
Rules on personal electronics vary. Some federal courthouses prohibit the general public from bringing any wireless device into the building at all. Others allow phones in the hallways but require them off inside the courtroom. Recording, photographing, or broadcasting proceedings is prohibited in virtually every courthouse. When in doubt, assume your phone needs to be off in the courtroom and you cannot record anything.
Dress for the seriousness of the setting. There’s no universal code, but business attire is the safe standard: slacks or a skirt with a collared shirt or the equivalent. Avoid shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, and hats. Judges have discretion to refuse entry to anyone whose appearance is disruptive or disrespectful. Once inside a courtroom, stay quiet. Don’t talk, eat, or use electronic devices. Stand when the judge enters and exits. Judges can hold people in contempt for disrupting proceedings.
If you need an accommodation for a disability, call ahead. State and local courthouses must comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires effective communication with people who have disabilities, reasonable modifications to procedures, and physically accessible buildings.12U.S. Department of Justice. State and Local Governments Federal courts follow their own policies and must provide sign language interpreters and other aids at no charge to participants in proceedings. Most courts need some advance notice to arrange services, so contact the clerk’s office or access coordinator before your visit.
If You Don’t Have a Lawyer
Many courthouses run self-help centers or pro se assistance for people representing themselves. Staff can provide forms, explain filing procedures, and point you to the right courtroom. They cannot give legal advice or tell you how to argue your case. Some federal courts maintain pro se intake units that help unrepresented litigants file documents and use electronic filing systems.
Filing fees for starting a civil lawsuit generally run from about $200 to $400, with the exact amount depending on the court and the type of case. If you can’t afford it, most courts let you apply for a fee waiver by showing financial hardship. The forms are available at the clerk’s office or on the court’s website.
Courthouse law libraries, where they exist, offer statutes, case law, and legal research databases. They’re open to the public, and librarians can help you find materials, though they can’t advise you on your case. Between self-help centers, form packets, and law libraries, a courthouse gives you more tools than most people realize, especially if you arrive knowing what to ask for.