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Law Unit A guide of what to do
Things to Avoid • Lionel Hutz: And so ladies and gentlemen of the jury. I rest my case. Judge Snyder: Hmm. MrHutz. Do you realize you're not wearing any pants? Lionel Hutz: I... Ahh! [David Crosby shakes his head in shame] Lionel Hutz: I move for a 'bad court thingy'. Judge Snyder: You mean a *mistrial?* Lionel Hutz: Yeah! That's why you're the 'judge' and I'm the 'law talking guy?' Judge Snyder: The *lawyer?* Lionel Hutz: Right.
Court Case Basics • How to understand the side you are on • Prosecution versus defense • Ex: Muller v Oregon • Muller is the prosecution • Oregon is the defense
Court Case Basics • How a trial runs: • Opening statements • Present your major points you wish to prove • Prosecution • Defense • Questioning • Prosecution direct examination (you are using your witness to build your case, ask questions to support your cause) • Defense cross examination (you are asking questions to discredit the witness and the prosecutions argument)
Court Case Basics • Questioning • Defense direct examination • Prosecution cross examination • Closing arguments • Sum up all your major points you hoped to prove • Prosecution • Defense • From front of room • Prosecution sits on right • Defense on left
Court Case Basics • Objections • Hearsay: testimony that is given that is not backed up by evidence • Speculation: witness is clearly guessing (can be allowed during a cross examination to a point) • Leading: Lawyer asks questions that does not allow witness to really answer as they see fit • Badgering: harassing a witness • Relevancy: question is totally off basis of case
Now what do I do? • Your side is responsible to prepare the correct side. • You will do this out of the classroom • I will have a “check in date” with you a week before the trial • If you come unprepared for this I will not help you
Day of Trial • I will call and time the cases • You have thirty minutes to present the entire case (I will keep time) • I will make sure each side has equal time for their parts
Day of Trial After your case • After the judge decided • Each group will have five minutes to go over their case with the audience and check for understanding. • I will give you the historic decision when it is over
Audience Responsibilities • You will take notes to the trial • Ask questions of groups after trial • Write down the verdict when I give it to you • After all the trials are done we will have a discussion as a class • There is a quiz a week after the trials on this material
Grading • The judge does all the grading • We will cover the grading sheet
Groups • We need ten groups • No less then 2 people • No more then 3 people
Case Preparation • You may only use laws and terms from the case briefing • You may use past cases we have covered in class to aid you • If you pull from something not mentioned in the case brief the evidence will be thrown out.