Apparently, they have to jockey for the best position on the front-row benches on the left side of the courtroom. Reporters with court beats get the front row on the right side - a handful of coiffed and chicly outfitted women I come to call the Court Scribettes. Other reporters can sit in the two rows behind them. Behind the reporters sit members of the defendants' families, and their supporters. Considering that the courtroom holds only about 100 people, there aren't too many members of the general public who can squeeze in.
Celebrity definitely helps in getting a seat.
I, apparently, am never deemed worthy and don't receive some important announcements. You can get what you need from the New York Times article. Puffmeister takes the stand Early Thursday morning, with Puffy due on the stand, trucks for TV stations large and small litter the area outside the State Supreme Court, their microwave antennas shooting up into the sky. Eager beavers begin lining up at least an hour before the court building opens at 8 a.m. When people are let onto the seventh floor, reporters and members of the public jockey for position behind barriers.