1. Belleville High School Law Related Education Program
INTRODUCTION to
MOCK TRIAL

2. Mock Trial Intellectual Combat 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.
Intellectual Combat
THE ART OF ADVOCACY.

3. The goal of mock trial is to
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
LEARN
AND
HAVE FUN

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

5. PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF A MOCK TRIAL
PHASE I
TEAM ROSTER  
TIME-LINE OF EVENTS
CASE THEORY  
3rd WITNESS STATEMENT 
EVIDENCE PROFILE

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. PHASE I 2. TIME-LINE OF EVENTS

9. The Case Theory is not a statement of your objective.
PHASE I 3. CASE THEORY
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”

10. 3 Steps to develop your Case Theory
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
Review the elements of the case you must prove or defend.
Analyze how you intend to prove/defend each of the elements.
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the case for both sides.

11. PHASE I 4. 3RD WITNESS STATEMENT
Your team must create a 3rd witness that will testify for your side of the case.
The 3rd 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.

12. PHASE I 5. EVIDENCE PROFILE
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.

13. 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. 13

14. Exhibit J-2 Gun Cabinet
Gun used by Defendant

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