Media Releases

Friday, 14 May 2010  

GET BEHIND THE SCENES FOR COURTS OPEN DAY  

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in our law courts then here’s your chance.  

The Courts Open Day is on again tomorrow (Saturday May 15) at the Sir Samuel Way Building complex on the corner of Gouger Street and Victoria Square near the Adelaide Central Market.  

This is a free event and provides a rare opportunity to explore areas inside the Courts that are not usually open to the general public.  

The most popular activity is a guided tour through the basement cells where the prisoners are kept before and after they appear in court. The tours end in courtrooms where visitors can view the room where juries deliberate the verdict. The tours leave every 15 minutes and take about as long to complete.  

There are some set interactive events, such as mock trials, mock pleas and mock  sentencings, where members of the public can see how their sentence compares with that of a judge. And there are ongoing activities, such as historical displays, demonstrations of court reporting and a wide range of information stands to browse through. These stands are run by justice-related organisations such as the Royal Association of the Justices of the Peace, Victim Support Services and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.   

Children are well catered for with Forensic Frenzy, a CSIRO a hands-on laboratory for budding forensic scientists.  

Live bands perform outside the building, for public entertainment and enjoyment.  

Courts Open Day is a popular event, with almost 2000 people attending last year. It is part of National Law Week, sponsored locally by the South Australian Institute of Justice Studies.  

Doors to the Sir Samuel Way Building open at 10am and close at 3.30pm.  

For more information just turn up or contact the Media and Communications Branch of the Courts Administration Authority on 8204 0403, or check the website, which is www.courts.sa.gov.au and follow the prompts to Courts Open Day, which includes the day’s program. For details of other Law Week events, of which there are many, go to www.justice.net.au and follow the prompts.  

Released by Sylvia Kriven: Media and Communications Manager CAA ph 82040388 or 0421 617 205.

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