Having my day in court*

.
For That's My World Tuesday let's continue our tour of Israel's Supreme Court Building that we started last week.

This photo is from the Court's website.

.

The new (1992) Supreme Court Building is in Givat Ram, at the western entrance to Jerusalem.

In this photo you can also see the Knesset, part of Jerusalem, and the hills on the eastern horizon where the desert begins.

.

This is the biggest of the five courtrooms for the 15 Supreme Court justices.

The judges sit on the dias, normally in panels of three.

At the computer screens sit a stenographer and a law clerk.

Lawyers sit at the semi-circular table.

.

Not in the photo: prisoner's dock to the left and press box to the right.

Members of the press can take notes but not photographs during proceedings.

.

You see no place for a jury because Israel does not have the jury system.

.

The back wall of the courtroom, of beautiful latticework wood, has a round window up near the high ceiling.

Joan, our excellent guide, said that the window is meant to remind the justices that Someone is watching them.

.

All five courtrooms are similar in architectural structure, inspired by ancient synagogues of the Talmudic period (200 C.E. - 600 C.E.) and by various historical periods in the Middle East.

Benches are for the public.

The public has the right to attend all court proceedings except for those matters held “in camera” and which deal with security or matters protected by the right of privacy.

.

If you'd like to see more of the beautiful building and learn its symbolism, come again tomorrow.

Shalom!

.

(* "To have one's day in court" = to have an opportunity to be heard.)

.