NCJ Number
59968
Journal
Deviance et societe Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 71-76
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SWISS COURT REPORTER WITHIN SOCIETY ARE DEPICTED.
Abstract
JUSTICE IS FASCINATING BECAUSE IT INVOLVES CRIME; CRIMES, PARTICULARLY VIOLENT CRIMES, CAPTURE PUBLIC ATTENTION. THE TEMPTATION OF EXPLAINING THE CRIMINAL'S ACTIONS IS DIFFICULT FOR THE COURT REPORTER TO RESIST. IN THIS SITUATION, COURT REPORTERS BECOME ENTOMOLOGISTS CLASSIFYING REALITY, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ACCUSED OF BEING VOYEURS. COURT REPORTERS CAN BE PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS WITHOUT LOSING THEIR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION; BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY SOMETIMES POINT OUT JUDGES, ERRORS OR INJUSTICES. BUT FREQUENTLY COLORFUL COVERAGE OUTWEIGHS IN-DEPTH COVERAGE SO THAT LAW IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECTED. HOWEVER, COURT REPORTERS ARE OFTEN PRIVILEGED CONFESSORS WHO HOPE TO IMPROVE DISCUSSION BETWEEN JUDGES AND DEFENDANTS, AND AMONG CITIZENS CAPABLE OF ALTERING LAW; MANY DISGRUNTLED DEFENDANTS WILL POUR OUT THEIR STORIES TO COURT REPORTERS BUT SHY AWAY FROM PUBLIC EXPOSURE, WHILE JUDGES TOLERATE REPORTING IN HOPES THAT IT WILL HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT ON THE GENERAL POPULATION. IN SOME INSTANCES, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF THOROUGH PRESS COVERAGE THAT A COURT HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND CERTAIN VITAL DETAILS OF EARLIER CASES RELEVANT TO A PRESENT CASE OR TO CORRECT JUDICIAL ERRORS WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE LEAD TO A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. WHILE THE PROFESSION OF COURT REPORTER IS TRYING, IT HOLDS CHARM FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNED WITH JUSTICE. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)