court analysis

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Introduction

The following assertion intends to provide an in-depth insight into my personal experience observing a trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria. This paper will outline a selection of many pressing issues noticed throughout my observation, more specifically those regarding the law and language in legal arenas along with symbolic and architectural traditions that reinforce prejudice towards those from a low socio-economic background and ethnic minority groups. Furthermore, it will argue how symbolism, architecture and practices within a court are in place to create a power dynamic and reinforce the courts British-'western' sovereignty and royal-like wealth which in turn intimidates members of the community especially from ethnically diverse or disadvantaged groups. I intend to demonstrate the power and authority of judges and the courts by drawing comparisons between the judges status in a court room with royalty and religious pastors, through the observation of attire, title and actual positioning in a court room.

The Supreme Court of Victoria

Within my court report I chose to focus specifically on the Supreme Court of Victoria although my research did also include attending the County Court . The reason for this selection was due to the historical significance of the Supreme Court and its hierarchical supremacy in the state of Victoria.

The Supreme Court of Victoria was “established by Victorian legislation in January 1852”(Supreme Court of Victoria) and has since remained the same in regards to its architecture and ceremonial Practices. The court holds power of the highest division of jurisdiction in the state of Victoria(supreme court of Victoria website). The case I will refer to in this article was the fir...

... middle of paper ...

...royalty and even God. Further on this comparison, I noticed the attire worn by a judge is strikingly similar to that of a King or Pastor, a long impressive scarlet gown and fine wigs or head-wear. Lastly, the positioning of a judge in a court is similar to a pastor or priest in a church or a king in a castle on a thrown at the highest level. Notice how the images below have striking similarities, with the recurring red and white trim gown and use of white wigs (the priest does not need the grey wig as he has a full head of grey hair). When I questioned why they wear a white wig, I considered that it may be used as another way to gain authority. It is universally thought that with age comes wisdom, and unfortunately with age comes grey hair. So maybe the grey wig is used to give the illusion of age for onlookers to assume they are much older, and therefore much wiser.

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