Sit in the public gallery at your local court

Every courthouse keeps a public gallery, and on a normal weekday it sits almost empty — open court, free, no ticket. You won't know what you're watching until you read the day's list pinned by the door: could be a sentencing, could be two neighbours going to war over a fence. Photograph the list on your way in, because that's the last photo you'll take — cameras stop at the door.