On 7 June I happened to be staying close to Taunton. I had noticed that the Magistrates Court had published a list of Common Platform cases for that day, but no Libra list of cases had been published on Courtserve. Since I was so close, I thought I would just drop by the Court and have a look at the public noticeboards outside the Courts.
Taunton Magistrates Court is situated in the centre of Taunton right next to a large LIDL store. I popped in to the store to collect some snacks and drinks for the journey back to Weymouth and then walked through the connecting footpath to the Court located next door to the supermarket.
Arriving in the reception area there was the usual security archway with three security staff waiting. When asked what my business was at the Court I replied "public observer. I have come to look at the list of cases." I had with me a notebook and pen, my credit cards and a mobile phone and a set of keys. To say that the search was thorough would be an understatement!
How much searching can you do of a notebook and a credit card wallet? But the security staff made the most of it. They seemed distinctly uneasy but eventually directed me up the stairs to Courts 1, 2 and 3.
At the top of the stairs was a long oblong waiting area with entrance to the Courts in the far distance. There were rows of benches and a few people sitting waiting. Over on the far wall was the list of cases that I wanted to examine. An usher was nearby and asked which case I was there for. "No particular one, said I. I am a public observer and just want to look at the hearing list." I walked over to the list, opened my notebook and started to jot down the details from the list posted on the wall."
"You cannot do that!", exclaimed the Usher. "Are you writing things down. You cannot copy the names." And she called security. "I do not think you can copy down the names." And she came to look over at what I was writing down. In the background I saw a security guard had arrived nearby.
I explained that these were public hearings and that the list was a public document. It had been published on the internet and I had a copy of the list on my laptop. This did not seem to calm the Usher down. She returned to her desk, asking the security guard who she could call to check. DId he know? He shrugged his shoulders.
I finished off copying down the details of the Court that was in operation - Court 1 - the names of the magistrates printed on the list and the fact that there were four cases listed, all Common Platform cases.
I tried explaining to the Usher that I was doing a project checking that the lists published on the internet matched those posted in the Court outside the courtroom. I mentioned "open justice" and asked if she had heard of it - justice is to be done in public, with the public able to observe hearings unless they were private? Since these were all public hearings, the information about them was also public. There was no discernible response from the Usher. The security guard just leant against the counter.
It was not clear whether the magistrates were sitting at the time, but I was pressed for time and so decided not to try and press to enter the courtroom to actually observe a case. I was a little worried about what might happen if I attempted to do that.
So I thanked her for her time, and walked towards the stairs and the exit, and back in to the lovely sunshine.
This was such a contrast to an earlier experience at Lincoln Magistrates Court. There the Usher, when told that I was a law student wanting to observe a hearing, smiled, said I was very welcome, and if I would like to follow him, there was an empty seat at the back of the Court on the right hand side.
At Taunton I used the phrase "public observer" and was treated with suspicion and did not receive any encouragement to observe the hearings. Quite the reverse. I wonder what the Usher would have done if she had been able to speak with "someone" about me copying down details from the hearing list posted on the wall? And they had confirmed her view that this was not allowed? Fortunately I managed to complete my mission and leave before having to deal with that situation (and the four security staff).
#OpenJustice - not a phrase that is well known at Taunton Magistrates Court
I am sorry to hear you’ve had a bad experience at Taunton. The staff there really should know better. At least, having had the benefit of your visit, they may be better informed about the public’s right to observe and take notes of proceedings.