In the Court of Paw: Do dogs belong in the courthouse?

May 18, 2024 – Prosecutors, police and victim advocates generally support the use of courthouse facility dogs in assisting victims and witnesses during court testimony, but what about the accused? The presence of a dog creates undue sympathy for witnesses and prejudice towards defendants.

Man’s best friend is finding employment opportunities within the justice system, with more and more pooches across the country obtaining the job title of “courthouse facility dog,” a dog that is trained to participate in legal proceedings. According to the Courthouse Dogs Foundation, as of April 12, 2024, there are 22 courthouse facility dogs in Washington State and 322 courthouse facility dogs (and growing) across the U.S. overall.

Advocates for the use of courthouse facility dogs cite that the dogs’ presence assists with comforting anxious and traumatized witnesses in criminal trials. While admirable, their presence may be going further than legislation intended – some dogs are even dressed up before trial and have their own dedicated social media accounts. Defense lawyers are rightfully concerned about what that means for the fair representation of their clients, who are seldom provided the same compassionate comforts and positive publicity.

“A dog signals to a jury that an alleged victim is sympathetic, needy or vulnerable,” stated Washington Appellate Project attorney Jan Trasen in an article interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). “The accused person doesn’t get to sit there with props.”

There are no shortage of dog lovers in the offices of the Washington Appellate Project. The office refrigerator shows as much, with numerous pictures of staff’s pets covering the front. Dogs are loved and precious creatures, but perhaps do not belong in an environment where the goal is fair and equitable justice.

“I love dogs,” added Trasen, whose very own canine companion, Bear, was trained at a juvenile detention center before joining Trasen’s family. “I just don’t think they belong in courtrooms.”

Read more on the issue: The Bone of Contention – WSJ Article