During your criminal trial, there will be various courtroom personnel present. These personnel include the judge, assistant district attorney, defense attorney, court coordinator, court clerks, and the court bailiff. Their roles are as follows.

The judge is to preside over the court during your trial. It is his or her job to be impartial and make decisions based only on the law and the evidence at hand, so he or she will never speak to you (nor should you try to contact the judge) unless defense counsel is present.

The assistant district attorney is assigned by the district attorney to prosecute cases in a particular court. They conduct trials and make plea bargain recommendations. Your only contact with the assistant district attorney will be through your own attorney.

The defense attorney is your legal counsel and he or she may be either hired by you or appointed by the court. The court may appoint a private or public attorney. Private attorneys work for a fee, while public attorneys work directly for the court and are typically assigned to a court full-time.

The court coordinator works for the judge and typically handles daily logistics. He or she is familiar with the practices of each judge and with courtroom policies. If you are unsure about court appearances or other logistics, the court coordinator can help you.

Court clerks work for the county or district clerk's office and they are responsible for handling all paperwork of the case. In addition, they calculate the time the defendant has already spent in jail and all fees and court costs.

The court bailiff works for the sheriff's office and is responsible for the safety of the court. He or she will handle jail prisoners and will inform the court of their arrival. If you need a qualified, experienced attorney call the Texas criminal lawyers at Grossman Law Offices.

Related articles:
Court room do's and don'ts
How You Appear In Court
Texas juvenile law

Questions answered in this article:
Who is in the courtroom during trial?
What is the district attorneys duties?
What is the duty of the defense attorney?