The sky wears a cloak of gray. Snow falls, then melts. Indoors, the instant coffee offers warm sips of solace. Heaters hum in a clunky staccato. It is winter in Boston, and the start of the spring semester. 

This week, on another familiarly cloudy day, my criminal justice class and I visited the Worcester District Court where we had the privilege to speak with a judge and observe her presiding over arraignments. The building’s drab architecture echoed the nature of its solemnity. Inside, people spoke in hushed tones, only interrupted by claps of footsteps on marble and the occasional beep of a metal detector. We sat in the back of courtroom 14. Here, the air felt thick, with a sense of gravity and respect.

“All rise,” said the clerk as the judge walked in. The room suddenly rose in a collective gesture of deference. “Welcome to my court,” she declared. In this question and answer session, the judge spoke candidly about the weight of responsibility that comes with the robe, emphasizing the constant endeavor to remain impartial and robust. Her acknowledgement of implicit biases within the legal system was particularly striking. “I myself as a woman sometimes don’t even get recognized as a judge when I’m going into court,” she added. “It is important that we don’t let these biases affect how we interpret the application of law to the facts of each case.” Highlighting efforts to address this in the judiciary, she mentioned various programs that Massachusetts courts had implemented to educate judges about implicit bias and the personal anecdotes that she had heard in these sessions from people who had been unfairly marginalized by the justice system and racism in society. Such discourse on the importance of judicial integrity and the pursuit of fairness above all resonated deeply. It was enlightening to hear her perspective on the necessity of continuous learning and adaptation, as the law and our society evolves. 

Next, the judge excused herself from our discussion, and we observed her preside over the morning’s arraignments. Observing the docket unfold was a stark reminder of the human element deeply embedded in the criminal justice system. One case that particularly stood out involved a 24-year-old woman charged with possession of a class-A drug. Her physical appearance, seemingly aged far beyond her years, and her demeanor – shaking and moaning as the judge read out the charges – painted a harrowing picture of addiction’s toll. “Please sit, you don’t need to stand right now,” the judge gestured. As a condition of the lady’s release on bail she would be subject to random drug tests, the failure of which would be jail with no possibility of bail. Contrastingly, an 18-year-old boy’s case brought a different challenge to the fore. Accused of threatening a non-uniformed police officer and brandishing a weapon, his behavior in court—interrupting the judge and muttering disruptions—tested the courtroom’s decorum. The judge’s response, a stern reprimand and a threat of expulsion showcased the challenge of balancing order and discipline in the courtroom.

Throughout the proceedings, the professionalism displayed by all involved—the judge, prosecutors, and public defenders—was exemplary. Each party’s adeptness in adapting their approach to the unique nuances of each case showcased a collective mastery in legal practice. But, above all, it was evident that everyone’s actions were mutually guided by a deep-seated respect for the law and a compassionate understanding of the predicaments of all defendants, regardless of circumstance or origin. It was humbling, to say the least.

The experience in Worcester ultimately was a cathartic one that challenged me to appreciate the legal system’s complexities and acknowledge the continuous efforts to improve and refine it. As we observed the solemn procession of arraignments, it was impossible not to consider the profound ramifications of each ruling. For the young woman grappling with addiction, the stipulations of her bail could mean a pivotal turning point or a further descent into the abyss. The unruly young man’s encounter with the law might set the stage for a strict reprimand to steer him away from a path of recidivism. Each decision rendered by the judge carried the weight of shaping futures, highlighting the immense responsibility that comes with the robe. These moments crystallized the profound impact of the legal system on personal lives, reinforcing the importance of every judgment and the overarching mission of justice to not only punish but also to rehabilitate. This has only deepened my respect for the legal process and those who serve in it. One thing the judge said during our question and answer session remains etched in my head; “our legal system may not be perfect. Actually, it is evidently far from perfect,” she stated. “But I love working in it because I believe there’s no better system in the world.”

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Christopher Tan is a first-year student at BC Law. Contact him at tanbw@bc.edu.