[00:05.19]046.A Visit to an American Court [00:11.35]In America, courtroom proceedings are generally open to the public and can, [00:16.90]within strict guidelines, be reported on in newspapers and on radio and television. [00:23.58]We use the word “allegation” and its verb form “allege” [00:29.71]to indicate that charges brought against a person have not been proven. [00:35.25]Cameras are also generally barred from courtrooms to protect the identities of the jurors, [00:42.12]unless special permission is given by the judge. [00:45.60]A jury, by the way, consists of from six to twelve ordinary citizens who are chosen by lottery to hear a case and decide, [00:55.50]under instructions from the judge, on whether the persons being tried are guilty or innocent. [01:03.88]In some cases which attract widespread public interest, [01:08.26]permission is given to televise the proceedings [01:11.05]if and only if the television cameras never photograph the members of the jury. [01:18.22]An exception to the rule of open proceedings are the proceedings of a Grand Jury. [01:24.30]Grand Jury proceedings are always secret. In this instance, [01:29.56]a jury is convened not to judge a defendant guilty or not guilty but to decide [01:35.96]if sufficient evidence is on hand to bring charges against someone and begin a public trial. [01:42.95]The secrecy of the grand jury proceedings is considered necessary to protect the integrity of the testimony [01:50.13]and the evidence which may be brought forward later in a public trial. [01:55.41]The secrecy prevents any future jury members from having formed an opinion about the case before the facts are known; [02:03.45]and it protects the reputations of people who may have been wrongfully or unnecessarily accused of a crime. [02:12.44]The fundamental rule of American legal practice is that a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. [02:21.43]The people accusing or prosecuting the defendant must prove through facts and testimony [02:28.44]that the person is guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

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