Court Clerk
Role in Courtroom:
COURT CLERKS work in courtrooms or in court clerical offices. They review documents to make sure that the documents are accurate and conform to administrative orders, statutes, rules and regulations, and judicial decisions. They administer the oath to witnesses, poll jurors, and maintain custody of evidence.

Job Qualifications:
Court Clerks must have completed two years of permanent service in any competitive title within the UCS and they must pass the Court Clerk exam with a score that renders them eligible for appointment

Court Interpreter
Role in Courtroom:
COURT INTERPRETERS provide verbatim oral interpretation between English and a foreign language in courtrooms and other court-related settings. They also translate documents and letters in foreign languages, and perform related clerical tasks.

Job Qualifications:
Interpreters generally work on a per diem basis, although some Spanish interpreters are employed full time. Full-time Court Interpreters must have a high school diploma or the equivalent, bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, and they must pass the Court Interpreter exam

Court Officer
Role in Courtroom:
COURT OFFICERS perform duties related to maintaining order and providing security in court buildings, including in courtrooms. The job is a blend of security work, public relations, law enforcement, prisoner management and clerical duties. Court Officers are peace officers who are required to wear uniforms, and may be authorized to carry firearms.

Job Qualifications:
Court Officers must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, pass the Court Officer exam, and be legally eligible to carry a firearm.
Court Officers work in the courts of New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island) and in Nassau, Suffolk, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties. They may also accompany judges when the judges travel.

Court Reporter
Role in Courtroom:
COURT REPORTERS are responsible for recording and transcribing testimony at formal and informal court proceedings, including trials, hearings, conferences and arraignments. As a part of their duties, Court Reporters are required to mark and record evidence, prepare transcripts, and organize and maintain transcripts and notes.

Job Qualifications:
Court Reporters must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and three years of recent general verbatim reporting experience; or they must have completed a course in court reporting and have two years of full-time general verbatim reporting experience. Either way, Court Reporters must pass the Court Reporter Exam with a score that renders them eligible for appointment.

Witnesses
Role in Courtroom:
Witnesses provide testimony, under oath, as to what they have seen, heard or otherwise observed regarding the case. Witnesses are examined and cross-examined by the attorneys and may be questioned by the judge

Judge
Role in Courtroom:
JUDGES preside over the courtroom, decide issues of law, and ensure that justice is served. There are various types of judges in New York State, and they are either elected or appointed to their positions, depending on the level of court involved.

Job Qualifications:
The qualifications for judges also vary depending on the level of court involved, but generally, judges, other than town and village justices, must have at least five years of experience after being admitted to the bar

Prosecutor
Role in Courtroom:
PROSECUTORS are attorneys that work for the district attorney’s office and represent the interests of all of the people of the State. The prosecutor attempts to prove beyond a “reasonable doubt” that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged. The prosecutor proves the case by introducing evidence to show that the defendant actually committed the crime.

Defense Attorney
Role in Courtroom:
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS represent the defendants. The defense attorney attempts to prove that the defendant is not guilty. Every criminal defendant is entitled to a defense attorney because the defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty

Juror
Role in Courtroom:
JURORS are a group of several people selected by the attorneys to decide issues of fact in a case. Jurors must pay close attention to the evidence presented by both sides and decide on a verdict, which is the decision of whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty

Defendant
Role in Courtroom:
In a civil matter, the defendant is the party who is being sued. In a criminal case, the defendant has been charged with a crime.