Years ago, I wanted to see the inside of Tamms, the downstate supermax prison that closed in 2013. The Illinois Department of Corrections said no. But Tamms had its own courtroom, where inmates accused of attacking guards were prosecuted and those who tore up bedsheets to hang themselves faced punishment for destruction of property. Open courts are sacrosanct, and so I attended a trial inside the lockup, and there was nothing prison officials could do about it except search my car when I arrived and grumble as they pawed through McDonald's wrappers and dirty socks, which they put in piles. I thanked them and said I'd appreciate it if they'd clean up the backseat, too.