BenchThe raised desk where the judge sits. It is at the front of the room.
Witness standThe enclosed seat beside the bench where a witness gives testimony.
Jury boxThe separate group of seats along one wall where the jury sits.
Plaintiff’s tableFor the side that brought the case and its lawyers. In a criminal trial the prosecution sits here.
BarThe bar: the railing, with a gate, that divides the room. Only the people in the case and the lawyers pass it.
In front of the bar: 11 7
SealThe great seal of the jurisdiction, on the wall behind the judge.
FlagsThey are behind the judge. The flag of the United States, and in a state court the state’s flag too.
Court reporter’s deskThe court reporter’s desk, in front of the bench. The reporter records what is said.
Clerk’s deskThe court clerk’s desk, in front of the bench. The clerk handles the court’s papers and passes documents to the judge.
WellThe well: the open space from bench to counsel tables. People do not cross it without the judge’s permission.
LecternLawyers may stand here to argue before the judge. It is between the two tables. Also called a podium.
Defense tableThe defense table, for the defendant and the defense lawyers.
The bar and behind it: 2 1
GalleryThe gallery: the benches behind the bar for the public.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-27. (1) Wikipedia, Courtroom, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtroom (the United States section, citing Neubauer and Fradella, America’s Courts and the Criminal Justice System, 11th ed., pp. 124-125): the judge sits behind a raised desk, the bench; behind the judge hang the jurisdiction's great seal and the flag of the United States, and a state court adds the state flag; beside the bench stand the witness stand and the desks of the court clerk and the court reporter; the bar, a railing or an imaginary barrier, divides the room, and only the parties, witnesses and lawyers pass it; on the bench side are tables for the plaintiff and the defendant and their counsel, both facing the bench, and the jury box, at 90 degrees, against one wall; usually with a podium or lectern between tables; the open space from bench to counsel tables is the well, and crossing it without permission is disrespectful; beyond the bar is the gallery, with seats for the public. (2) United States Courts, Courtroom Simulation Roles and Responsibilities, https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/annual-observances/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month/korematsu-v-us-balancing-liberties-and-safety/courtroom-simulation-roles-and-responsibilities : the judge speaks from the bench; attorneys stand at the courtroom podium in front of the judge; people observe from the well of the courtroom; the gallery. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
These are the parts of a courtroom on an American trial courtroom, drawn as a floor plan from above with the judge's bench at the top. Start with the 6 main parts.
Read the full guide
In front of the bar
The judge sits at the bench, a raised desk, with the seal and flags behind. Beside it is the witness stand, and in front are the clerk's and court reporter's desks. The jury box runs along one wall. The two counsel tables face the bench across the open well, with a lectern between them.
The bar and the gallery
The bar is the railing across the room. Only the people in the case, the witnesses and the lawyers pass through it. Behind it is the gallery, where the public sits.
Which side the plaintiff and the jury sit on changes from courtroom to courtroom, so name the tables by who uses them.
Questions and answers
What is the well in a courtroom?
The open space between the judge's bench and the counsel tables. Lawyers ask the judge's permission before crossing it, and papers for the judge usually go through the clerk or bailiff.
Why is it called the bar?
The bar is the railing that divides the courtroom. Only the parties, witnesses and lawyers pass it, which is why the legal profession as a whole came to be called the bar.
Where does the jury sit in a courtroom?
In the jury box, a separate group of seats set at a right angle along one wall, so the jurors can see the witness stand and both tables.