# After watching Law and Order last night, I began to wonder... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730 "2003-06-18T16:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![swanky\_glue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@swanky\_glue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swanky_glue)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/1 "2003-06-18T16:25:51Z")
What determines which side of the courtroom the defendant sits on. In a lot of movies they are seated on the left side (facing the judge), but sometimes they are on the right side. Similarly, the witness box is sometimes to the left and sometimes to the right. Also, the defendant is seeted near the jury box and sometimes across the room from the jury. I just wondered if there was a special method depending on what the defendant is being charged with that determines where he/she sits… If anyone has any insight, please let me know ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/2 "2003-06-18T16:31:29Z")
The prosecutor or plaintiff has the table closest to the jury box. ---
**Author:** ![swanky\_glue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@swanky\_glue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swanky_glue)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/3 "2003-06-18T16:37:19Z")
thanks Pravnik Is there a particular reason for this? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/4 "2003-06-18T16:48:16Z")
I’ve heard several, not sure which is the true one. I’m sure some of the other legal types will be along to help soon. One is just that it’s tradition; it’s just always been done that way. Another is that it’s because the prosecutor or plaintiff is the one bringing the case, has the burden of proof, and is the first and last to address the jury, so they get the table closest to the jury box. Another more lightherated and tongue in cheek one is if the defendant goes nuts there’s a little distance between him and the jury box. At least I think it’s tongue in cheek. Welcome to the boards, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![swanky\_glue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@swanky\_glue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swanky_glue)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/5 "2003-06-18T17:04:46Z")
Thanks again for the insight, and thanks for the warm welcome as well. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/6 "2003-06-18T17:04:47Z")
My judge just came through my office and corrected me slightly; he said his understanding was that the one with the burden of proof had their choice of where to sit. This is virtually always closer to the jury, to the point that the table closest to the jury is considered the “prosecutor’s table.” But that may just be the rule in his own courtroom. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/7 "2003-06-18T17:16:31Z")
The layout of courtrooms is pretty variable. In the New York County Courthouse (which is where they usually are for Law and Order) most of the courtrooms are one of two patterns that are mirror images of each other. There are a few bigger courtrooms (the ones with the murals that they frequently show on L&O) that have different layouts. In most instances, however, the witness stand is pretty close to the jury box, and the court reporter sits just below the witness stand or the judge’s bench. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/8 "2003-06-18T17:46:44Z")
Here in VA in every General District Court that I’ve prosecuted a case in, the prosecution is to the right of the judge as you face the bench. The clerk’s desk is there, too (to the right). The Circuit Courts have all been the reverse of that (IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/9 "2003-06-18T18:08:00Z")
I was in a criminal court in Houston, Texas, just yesterday as a witness, and the defense was sitting on the right side (as you face the judge) and the prosecution was on the left back, closest to the jury. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-watching-law-and-order-last-night-i-began-to-wonder/182730/10 "2003-06-18T22:03:56Z")
In the Canadian trial courts I’ve been in, it depends on the layout of the court room, which I think is just a question of design rather than symbolic representation of the onus of proof. The dock (where the accused sits) and the jury box are usually on opposite sides of the court room. The defence lawyer always sits on the side closest to the dock, to be able to consult with the accused throughout the trial as needed, and without the Crown being able to overhear. That means the Crown sits on the opposite side, closest to the jury. My experience with appellate courts in Canada is that the appellant always sits on the table to the left of the judge, the respondent sits on the table to the right. Just custom, I guess. Welcome to the SDMB, **swanky\_glue**.