Pro se is self representation. The defendant may be forced to proceed pro se if the judge refuses to appoint counsel, and the defendant is unable to hire counsel. The judge presides over the trial making all the final decisions on issues of law and admissibility of evidence. In those trials where a jury is not used, the judge becomes the trier of fact and, in criminal cases, must decide guilt or innocence. The bailiff calls the court into order and announces the judge's entry into the courtroom.
Bailiffs are also responsible for security in the courtroom and in the courthouses.
Each judge has a court clerk who administers oaths, manages the court file, numbers the exhibits, maintains the exhibits during the trial, and is responsible for all court documents. This is the person who is responsible for taking down verbatim all the words said in homicide preliminary hearings and during the trial or hearing in the District Court. In a criminal case, the defendant is the person accused of a crime. In a civil case, the defendant is the person from whom money or other recovery is sought. In a criminal case, a defense attorney represents the defendant and is responsible for seeing that the defendant's rights are protected and for providing vigorous representation of the defendant, including presentation of any available defenses.