Hello again. I'm currently sitting in a Mock Trial Constitution Amendment Meeting (hence the title).
What is Mock Trial? Essentially it's a debate club. At the beginning of the year, the American Mock Trial Association sends out a "case packet"-which consists of a series of affidavits that relate to that year's case-which this year, was a drunk-driving and possible murder case. Normally, there are 10 affidavits, and a certain portion are "prosecution" witnesses, a certain portion are "defense" witnesses, and there are a few that are "switch witnesses"-witnesses that can be used on either side depending on how the case is argued.
So each tournament consists of four rounds, two rounds in which the team debates as the Prosecution, and two rounds in which the team debates as the Defense. There are 6 people per side, 3 attorneys and 3 witnesses. Rounds proceed as follows: Pre-trial, where the attorneys are introduced, then Opening Statements for both sides. Then, the Prosecution begins it's Case-in-Chief. The first witness-attorney pair proceeds in what is called as the Direct Examination-this is the time for the witness to shine and for the prosecution to have it's case heard. This year, we called the best friend of the victim to the stand so that she could cry and tell everyone how terribly the defendant drove that night. After the Direct finishes, an attorney from the other side comes up. This time, it's the attorney's time to shine, because it's up to the attorney to interrogate the witness and show the inconsistencies in the witness's story. This happens 3 times on each side on the prosecution's side, and then the defense goes. After both sides go, Closing Arguments are given by both sides. The judges then fill out the ballots, they're sent to a toom that determines which side won, and then judges give comments. All in a maximum of 3 hours.
It's fantastic. Also lots of work. But right now, we're done for the year, since we didn't pass the Opening Rounds of the Championship Series (aka first rounds of Nationals).
What is Mock Trial? Essentially it's a debate club. At the beginning of the year, the American Mock Trial Association sends out a "case packet"-which consists of a series of affidavits that relate to that year's case-which this year, was a drunk-driving and possible murder case. Normally, there are 10 affidavits, and a certain portion are "prosecution" witnesses, a certain portion are "defense" witnesses, and there are a few that are "switch witnesses"-witnesses that can be used on either side depending on how the case is argued.
So each tournament consists of four rounds, two rounds in which the team debates as the Prosecution, and two rounds in which the team debates as the Defense. There are 6 people per side, 3 attorneys and 3 witnesses. Rounds proceed as follows: Pre-trial, where the attorneys are introduced, then Opening Statements for both sides. Then, the Prosecution begins it's Case-in-Chief. The first witness-attorney pair proceeds in what is called as the Direct Examination-this is the time for the witness to shine and for the prosecution to have it's case heard. This year, we called the best friend of the victim to the stand so that she could cry and tell everyone how terribly the defendant drove that night. After the Direct finishes, an attorney from the other side comes up. This time, it's the attorney's time to shine, because it's up to the attorney to interrogate the witness and show the inconsistencies in the witness's story. This happens 3 times on each side on the prosecution's side, and then the defense goes. After both sides go, Closing Arguments are given by both sides. The judges then fill out the ballots, they're sent to a toom that determines which side won, and then judges give comments. All in a maximum of 3 hours.
It's fantastic. Also lots of work. But right now, we're done for the year, since we didn't pass the Opening Rounds of the Championship Series (aka first rounds of Nationals).
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