YOUR GUIDE TO THE MOCK TRIAL
Jan 15, 2016
YOUR GUIDE TO THE MOCK TRIAL
MOCK TRIAL ORDER OF OPERATIONS- THE CROWN• Crown (prosecution) opening
statement- 5 minutes• Crown first witness direct examination• Crown first witness cross examination• Crown second witness direct
examination• Crown second witness- cross
examination
MOCK TRIAL-ORDER OF OPERATIONS- DEFENSE
• Defense opening statement (5 mins)• Defense witness one direct examination• Defense witness one cross examination• Defense witness two direct examination• Defense witness two cross examination• Summations (Close) Defense• Summations (Close) Crown
HINTS AND TIPS TO SHINE AND BE ELECTRIFYING DURING THE TRIAL
COURTROOM TIPS AND ETIQUETTE
• The Judge rules the courtroom- don’t interrupt
• Always say “Your Honour”
• Always stand when the judge enters, or when talking
OPENING STATEMENTS• Be clear, concise in
your words• Try not to read too
much• Put some inflection in
your voice• Connect with your
audience• Make sure that
opening is a road map
OPENING STATEMENTS CONT.
• Try not to use big words- be conversational
• remember you are talking to a jury that does not know the law
• Your opening statement should be a road map- meaning it should have some direction: beginning,middle, end
MORE AND MORE OPENING STATEMENT HINTS
• Remember you have not proven anything
• Use “the evidence will show”
• Road map means you introduce the case without arguing the case
Be sure of yourself and in charge
QUESTIONING WITNESSES• For your own
witness- be friendly, conversational
• Your attitude should be to get to the truth
• Questions should be open ended, easy to follow, easy to answer- be the “good guy”
• Tell the story in the most effective way
CROSS EXAMINING WITNESSES• Short closed
questions• Don’t give witness
a chance to explain themselves
• Try to pin them down into a corner
• Be the “bad guy”, but don’t make the jury dislike you
CROSS EXAMINATION CONTINUED
• Be confrontational but not too confrontational
• Make sure you poke holes in their credibility
CLOSING STATEMENTS• Sum up your main
points• If your opening was
“This is what we are going to prove”
• Your closing is “this is what we have proven
• Burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt
NOW YOU ARE READY TO “STYLE AND PROFILE”
OR BE AS GOOD OR ELOQUENT AS THIS GUY (ON THE LEFT)