Belleville High School Law Related Education Program

Mock Trial What is Mock Trial? Mock Trial is a competitive, intellectual activity that requires students to work in a cooperative group to make a coordinated and persuasive oral presentation. The objective is not to determine which side has the strongest argument. The objective is to make the strongest argument for your side.

Mock Trial Why Mock Trial? The focus of mock trial is education; it is designed to:  Improve students' problem solving, public speaking, writing, listening, and critical thinking skills.  Educate students about their legal rights and how the legal system works. The goal of mock trial is to

How to Begin  Read and review ALL material in the mock trial packet. -Fact pattern -Witness statements -Reports -Physical Evidence PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF A MOCK TRIAL

PHASE I 1. TEAM ROSTER 2. TIME-LINE OF EVENTS 3. CASE THEORY 4. 3 rd WITNESS STATEMENT 5. EVIDENCE PROFILE

PHASE I 1. TEAM ROSTER  Your team is responsible for preparing a Team Roster that lists all team members and the role they will present at trial.  Use the template provided and be sure that all team members sign the document before it is submitted to the court.

PHASE I 2. TIME-LINE OF EVENTS  Your team is responsible for preparing a Time-Line of Events to help your team comprehend the who, what, where & when issues of the case.  The Time-Line allows your team to plot out order of significant events in case.

 The Case Theory is how your team will convince the jury/judge your side/client should win.  The Case Theory is not a statement of your objective.  The Case Theory addresses the essential issue of guilt or innocence by suggesting, why the defendant is or is not guilty. Example: O.J. Simpson trial, defense case theory; “If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit” PHASE I 3. CASE THEORY

 Your Case Theory must remain consistent during each phase of the trial.  At the conclusion of the trial your Case Theory must be the more plausible explanation of what happened. 3 Steps to develop your Case Theory A. Review the elements of the case you must prove or defend. B. Analyze how you intend to prove/defend each of the elements. C. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the case for both sides. PHASE I 3. CASE THEORY

 Your team must create a 3 rd witness that will testify for your side of the case.  The 3 rd witness should support your Case Theory but cannot be an alibi witness.  Your team must prepare a written statement which must be provided to the other team for review.  Use the template provided and be sure that all team members sign the document before it is submitted to the court. PHASE I 4. 3 RD WITNESS STATEMENT

 Your team will be given evidence collected by the police during the investigation of this case.  In addition, your team may create evidence that your team will present at trial to support your team’s Case Theory.  The evidence your team creates must be approved by the court and provided to the opposing team prior to trial.  Your team must follow these rules in order to create admissible evidence. PHASE I 5. EVIDENCE PROFILE

 Your team must create an Evidence Profile for all physical evidence in the case.  Physical evidence is all tangible evidence (pictures, drawings, scale models, police and expert reports) that you intend to introduce during the trial.  This profile should list the points about the evidence that BOTH help and hurt your case.  This will help your team prepare Direct and Cross Examination questions. PHASE I 5. EVIDENCE PROFILE

Exhibit J-2 Gun Cabinet Gun used by Defendant

State v. Shotem Exhibit J-1 Police Artist rendition of Crime Scene