Mock Trial GO-RP

A very simple Itinerary for conducting a Mock Trial. Trials will last roughly two hours, with a short intermission break after the first cross examination.

Trial Start (As defined by the start time) (Roughly 5-15 minutes)

• Bailiff will accompany the Judge, introduce them, and call the court to order.
• Judge will read the order for today's proceedings (this itinerary) as well as ask that the lawyers for each party are ready.
• Judge will read the case name, identify the Plantiff (Prosecuting team) and Defense (Defending team) as predetermined before the trail (OOC).
• Judge will then ask the Plantiff and Defense to provide all their evidence to be entered into the court record. The evidence will be entered one at a time, starting with the prosecution first, then alternating to defense until all evidence is logged.
• Both teams will have roughly 5 minutes to deliberate about the evidence logged, then the Judge will call the court in session.
• Judge you are the court time keeper and also the navigator of the session. Keep the court focused and on task, as well as keep the order of the court.

Opening Statements (Roughly 5 minutes a piece)

• Plantiff will give their opening statements, and summarizes the evidence which will be presented to prove the case. Once done, they will be seated and defense will give their opening
• Defense will give their opening statements, summarizing the evidence for the court which will be presented to rebut the case the prosecution has made.

Direct Examination Plantiff (Roughly 30 minutes)

• The plaintiff' s attorneys conduct the direct examination of its own witnesses or evidence. At this time, testimony and other evidence will be provided by the plaintiff' s case will be represented. The purpose of direct examination is to allow witnesses to state the facts in support of the case.
  • The attorneys for both sides, on both direct and cross examination, should remember that their only function is to ask questions; attorneys themselves may not testify or give evidence, and they must avoid phrasing questions in a way that might violate this rule.

Cross Examination Defense (Roughly 30 minutes) After the attorney for the prosecution (plaintiff) has completed questioning each witness or used their evidence, the judge then allows the other party defense attorney to cross-examine the witness or argue the evidence. The cross-examiner seeks to clarify or cast doubt upon the testimony of opposing witnesses. Inconsistency in stories, bias, and other damaging facts may be pointed out to the judge through cross-examination.

Recess (Roughly 20-30 minutes) The court is adjured for roughly a 20-30 minute break to allow the prosecution and defense a time to deliberate, use the restroom, get a drink or snack, etc.

Direct Examination Defense (Roughly 30 minutes)

• After all the prosecution' s (plaintiff' s) witnesses have been examined by both sides, the defense will present its own witnesses and evidence. Direct examination of each defense witness follows the same pattern as the above which describes the process for prosecution' s witnesses.
  • The attorneys for both sides, on both direct and cross examination, should remember that their only function is to ask questions; attorneys themselves may not testify or give evidence, and they must avoid phrasing questions in a way that might violate this rule.

Cross Examination Plantiff (Roughly 30 minutes

• After the attorney for the defense has completed questioning each witness, the judge then allows the other party to cross-examine the witness or argue the evidence. The cross-examiner seeks to clarify or cast doubt upon the testimony of opposing witnesses. Inconsistency in stories, bias, and other damaging facts may be pointed out to the judge through cross-examination.

Closing Arguements (Roughly 5 minutes a piece)

• Judge will call to action the closing arguments, starting with the plantiff
• Prosecution, the closing argument is a review of the evidence presented. It should indicate how the evidence has satisfied the elements of the charge or claim, point out the law applicable to the case, and ask for a favorable verdict. One complete, you will sit an allow the defense their opportunity to give their closing arguments.
• Defendant, the closing argument for the defense is essentially the same as for the prosecution. Counsel for the defense reviews the evidence as presented, indicates how the evidence does not satisfy the elements of the charge or claim, stresses the fact favorable to the defense, and asks for a verdict favorable to the defense.

Verdict (10-15 minute deliberation for judge or jury) (If Judge)

• The presiding Judge will then based on the facts provided, hand down the verdict based on their understanding of the law and will announce the decision.
• If there is a sentence, the Judge will then provide the sentence as described by the law.

(If Jury)

• The Judge will ask the Bailiff to assemble the jury, and have them provide their verdict.
• The presiding Judge will then based on the decision, hand down the verdict based on their understanding of the law and will announce the decision in line with the Jury's vote.
• If there is a sentence, the Judge will then provide the sentence as described by the law.