The lawyers were present, the defendant was led in and everyone stood while U.S. District Court Judge David McKeague made his way to the bench.

Outside Moot Court Room at MSU-DCL College of Law, U.S marshals guarded the door to check all handbags and identification. The stenographer sat ready before her machine.

It was a real trial proceeding in every way on Monday when the U.S. District Court held session, but it was also a special learning opportunity for law students, MSU-DCL Dean Terence Blackburn said.

"It is an invaluable experience to see how the practice of law takes place," he said. "The goal is for them to connect the theoretical with what happens in the courtroom."

Proceedings were held at MSU while McKeague's usual courtroom in the Federal District Court Building in Lansing was being wired for electronic evidence viewing equipment. McKeague is also an MSU-Detroit College of Law honorable adjunct professor.

This was not the first time the U.S. District Court has come to MSU-DCL. The court held session at the college sporadically throughout the past semester, Blackburn said, creating a convenient way for students to get real-life exposure.

"If a student has an hour break between class, they can drop in and see what's going on," he said. "If it was in Lansing, they wouldn't have time."

A trial involving local bank robbery charges was set to be heard in the court room this week, but was moved back to Lansing for security reasons, officials said.

Watching an afternoon sentencing, first-year law student Rachael Bringedahl was enthusiastic about being able to watch trial law in action.

"The goal is really to get as much exposure as possible," Bringedahl said. "To actually see it is what is exciting to me. Reading and being lectured all the time, it's hard to keep inspiration."

As the trial proceedings finished, McKeague stepped down from his bench to address the audience of about 20 law students who had come to watch. He took questions from the mostly first-year students as he explained, in detail, what had happened while court was in session.

This opportunity for discussion between the judge and students was one of the most valuable parts of the court's visit, said Brian Kalt, an associate professor at MSU-DCL.

"The students can figure out how a judge thinks about a certain case," he said. "And any insight on how a decision-maker thinks is invaluable."

Witnessing an actual court in session was essential for first-year law student Sam Waldbaum, who said it was important for students to experience the atmosphere of a real courtroom, rather than depending on preconceptions from TV shows and the classroom.

"Every student watches 'Law and Order,'" Waldbaum said. "But it's good to get a sense of what the atmosphere of the courtroom is like compared to what it looks like on TV.

"Studying law and practicing law are two completely different things."