Behind the Bench: Wild Courtroom Stories From a Retired Federal Court Clerk - Part 1
What really happens behind the scenes in federal court?
Trial attorney Karren Kenney sits down with retired federal and state court clerk Lisa Bredahl for an inside look at a side of the justice system most people, including many lawyers, never get to see. Lisa spent more than three decades working inside state and federal courthouses, including 21 years in federal court. In this episode of the Legal Vixen Podcast, she shares unforgettable stories from her career and explains just how different life inside a federal courtroom can be from state court.
They discuss:
Lisa's transition from California state court to federal court
Starting her federal court career just before September 11, 2001
What happened inside the courthouse on 9/11
High-security federal criminal trials and protected witnesses
What federal courtroom deputies actually do
How federal judges and their law clerks work behind the scenes
Why every federal judge can run a courtroom differently
The surprising differences between state and federal court
Courtroom microphones—and who may be able to hear what attorneys are saying
And some truly unbelievable courthouse escape stories
One of Lisa's wildest stories involves an in-custody defendant who climbed into the courthouse ceiling and ventilation system and remained there for more than 48 hours. Court personnel ultimately turned up the heat, and he was eventually caught—but not before he apparently made his way into courtrooms and helped himself to food he found along the way.
Karren also shares her own perspective from decades of criminal trial practice, including the very different experience of trying cases in California state court and federal court. If you've ever wondered what actually happens behind the courtroom doors, this episode is for you.
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This content is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.