1. Good Day!
DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY &
YESTERDAY
1) Write: Date: 09/21/09, Topic: Legal Procedures
2) On the next line, write “Opener #16” and then:
1) Plot your mood, reflect in 1 sent.
2) Respond to the opener by writing
at least 2 sentences about:
Your opinions/thoughts OR/AND
Questions sparked by the clip OR/AND
Summary of the clip OR/AND
Other things going on in the news.
Announcements: None
2. Agenda
1) Legal Procedure Overview
2) Assign Mock Trial Roles
3) Discuss Mock Trial HW (10 Pts)
What you will be able to do:
1) Know what to do as a victim of a
crime.
Reminder
1) Find, read, highlight, vet 4 sources
4. Notes #16a, Title: “Legal Procedures”
1) To Bring Order: Courts deals with 3:
a)Interpretation of the Law: You vs. Gov
Outcome: Stop law or action, force action.
b) Criminal Cases: Society vs. Accused
Outcome: punishment
c) Civil Cases: You vs. Others
Outcome: Money or action. Personal harm
cases are called torts.
When you harm someone. You can be sued by the
gov for criminal action (guilty “beyond reasonable
doubt”) and sued by a person for civil action
(lower req: “clear and convincing” guilt)
5. Hypothetical: Say you tell someone
“You better do this or I’ll beat you up”
This would be the act of extortion.
1) It is a criminal crime. (criminal case)
2) If it has caused the victim harm, he/she
can sue. (civil case).
3) If it involves students, it can also have
school punishments.
You can face all 3! OJ was found not
guilty in criminal court, but lost his civil
suit against him, and paid millions.
6. 2) How to Win:
a) Arbitration/Mediation (Criminal: Plea Deal):
95% of cases are settled before ever a trial.
b) Prove Innocence (Create Factual Doubt):
To a jury, guilt: 12/12 jurors, civil: 9/12 jurors
needed to defeat you.
c) Dispute Law or Evidence (Case Precedent):
To a judge, dispute the law or exclude pieces
of evidence that were gained illegally.
“Even if I did what you said…”
d) Flee to a country that doesn’t have
extradition with the US: Venezuela or Iran
7. Notes #16a, Title: “Legal Procedures”
3) Roles in the Criminal Process:
Police: Gathers evidence, makes arrest
District Attorney/DA: Prosecuting lawyer for
gov, decides if gov will prosecute.
Defender: Hired lawyer for the accused.
Public Defender/PD: Gov hired lawyer for the
accused.
Review
Judge: Rules on issues of law
Jury: Determines guilt (reality)
8. Work #16a, Title “Mock Trial Roles”
1) Write down your role
2) Summarize what one does with validity
sheet
3) Summarize what your HW is due block day
(Period 5: You are getting 2 bonus points for
the short notice)
Murder Case 1
1-4) DA
5-8) PD
9-12) Witnesses
9) F: Defendant (text messager)
10) F: Passenger (in car w defendant)
11) M: Witness down the street
12) ?: Crime scene investigator
Murder Case 2
13-16) DA
17-20) PD
21-24) Witnesses
21) M: Defendant (street racer)
22) F: Girlfriend of victim 1
23) F: Wife of victim 2
24) ?: Crime scene investigator
Both Cases
25-36) Jury (12)
37-39) Judge + clerks
9. Find 4 sources
on your role,
and attach a
Validity Sheet
to each
source.
Due: Block
Find, read,
highlight,
validate.