CHY4U West & the World

Trials of the Centuries

Roles and Responsibilities

PROSECUTION ATTORNEYS:

a) developing a personal opinion on the guilt of the defendant

b) collecting EVIDENCE, such as primary documents, pictures, tables or statistics, to build up support for their case. (Note: Most trials are won or lost based on the quality and quantity of evidence presented during the trial, make an impact!)

c) providing the defence with a STATEMENT containing the 3 charges for which the defendant is presumed guilty of committing.

d) Preparing a typed FACT SHEET with the following information:

§ Names of the prosecuting attorneys

§ Trial name

§ The charges

§ Historical names of witnesses

§ Detailed bibliography

e) deciding who will make the opening address and the closing remarks

f) choosing 2 relevant witnesses

g) deciding who will question each prosecution witness and cross-examine each defence witness

h) developing significant questions for each witness and rehearsing the answers with them.

i) Preparing the witnesses for possible questions by the defence attorneys.

j) Clearly understand the nature and purpose of objections during the trial.

k) Dress appropriately.

DEFENCE ATTORNEYS

a) developing a personal opinion on the innocence of the defendant

b) collecting EVIDENCE, such as primary documents, pictures, tables or statistics, to build up support for their case. (Note: Most trials are won or lost based on the quality and quantity of evidence presented during the trial, make an impact!)

c) providing the prosecution with a STATEMENT containing the 3 counter arguments that defends the innocence of the defendant.

d) Preparing a typed FACT SHEET with the following information:

§ Names of the defence attorneys

§ Trial name

§ The plea

§ An outline of defence arguments

§ Historical names of witnesses

§ Detailed bibliography

e) deciding who will make the opening address and the closing remarks

f) choosing 2 relevant witnesses

g) deciding who will question each defence witness and cross-examine each prosecution witness

h) developing significant questions for each witness and rehearsing the answers with them.

i) Preparing the witnesses for possible questions by the prosecution attorneys.

j) Clearly understand the nature and purpose of objections during the trial.

k) Dress appropriately.

WITNESSES

a) acquiring a pre-trial knowledge by consulting the textbook and other sources

b) meeting with the attorneys prior to the trial to learn their role in the trial

c) prepare answers from own attorneys, and to possible questions from the opposing attorneys

JUDGES

a) setting and applying the rules of the court

b) preparing a brief opening statement to set the tone and establish the purpose of the trial

c) passing judgement and giving sentence with a clear, definitive statement to justify decisions

JURY

a) acquiring a pre-trial knowledge of the trial by consulting the FACT SHEETS.

b) Ask clarification questions of the witnesses.

**PENALTIES**

Due dates for presentations will be firm! Only serious illness or family emergency will be accepted as excuse from a trial. A medical note must be presented, and the teacher must be contacted the morning of the trial is someone is to be absent. Failure to meet a deadline will result in a mark of zero being awarded for that component of the culminating activity.