Objective 1.02
Understand Court Systems and Trial Procedures
Activity 1
Read each statement and mark T-True or F-False for each in the blank preceding the statement.
______1. The U.S. Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction.
______2. Most Court of Appeals cases are decided by a panel of three judges.
______3. The Federal Appeals Courts listens to original court testimony and evidence presentation.
______4. The U. S. District Courts have original jurisdiction.
______5. There are thirteen Federal Courts of Appeal with twelve being assigned a specific geographic section of the United States. The thirteenth court handles cases in Alaska and Hawaii.
______6. The bottom level of the Federal Court system is the Federal District court.
______7. The U. S. Supreme Court decides which cases it will hear by a vote of nine of its justices.
______8.Currently there are 94 U. S. District Courts.
______9.Cases that involve an interpretation of the U. S. Constitution are normally heard in the State Supreme Court.
______10. A dispute between North Carolina and Virginia over ownership of the Lake Gaston boundary area on the state line, would be decided in each respective State Supreme Court of each individual state.
Objective 1.02
Understand Court Systems
and Trial Procedures
Activity 2
Directions: Students are to read each scenario and using what they have learned about court and trial procedures, list the steps that would occur for each scenario.
Scenario 1
Joe Short was caught breaking into Central Elementary School in Edenton, NC. Joe had stolen several laptop computers and was on his way out of the school with the property when he was arrested. After Joe was arrested and processed by the police, what were his next steps in the court and trial process?
Scenario 2
Poor Joe Short was convicted in Superior Court, but he and his attorney appealed the conviction? Where was the case appealed to (exact name)? What type of things can Joe’s appeal consist of? If his appeal is denied, does Joe have any other appeal open to him? If so what is his next appeal step?
1.02 Activity 3
Curriculum Standards
This Fairy Tale Mock Trial is designed to challenge students to progress through:
· comprehension
· analysis
· transformation
· Argumentative
When the students achieve critical understanding of characters and themes, they will creatively extend the story into a mock trial activity in which the villain is prosecuted.
Why do fairy tales always have such mean villains? Why do our heroes have to suffer so much? Come and investigate a fairy tale and take those bad bullies to court!
In order to take those bad bullies to court, you must know your facts. You must be prepared!
1. Examine the crime scene, gather facts, and interview witnesses (in other words read/review your chosen story).
2. Select a bad bully to take to court.
3. You and your team will try the bad bully case. Your classmates will be the jury.
Read a fairy tale. Investigate the important details of each story. Answer the Story Summary Questions for your story. (DUE TO THE TEACHER)
1. Character Descriptions for:
a. The Main Character(s)
b. The Villain
2. Describe the Setting
3. What is the problem(plot)?
4. How is the problem solved?
Pay attention! You are looking for important facts that will be used in court. Investigate the crime scene.
A law is broken when someone is hurt or taken advantage of by another. Examples of laws that have been broken in these fairy tales are:
• fighting and violence
• cruel treatment
• false imprisonment (being locked up for no reason)
• stealing
• trickery and fraud
It is your team's job to select a fairy tale and investigate possible crimes. Answer the Crime Scene Questions to identify the bully, identify the law or laws broken, and get all the evidence that shows a law or laws have been broken.(DUE TO THE TEACHER)
1. Laws Broken
2. Explain how the main character was hurt by the crime.
3. Describe where the crime or crimes take place.
4. Evidence:
a. Did any characters witness the crime/crimes? Who? How?
b. What objects were used in the crime?
c. Are there any clues left behind at the crime scene?
d. What strange things happened that shows a crime has taken place?
Laws are created to try and make sure everyone is treated fairly. When people think they are treated unfairly (if they have been hurt by another), they can go to court and ask a judge or jury to hear the evidence and decide whether they have been treated fairly or not. We have a balanced process to help us find out what is fair.
• Both sides tell their side of the story before a judge and jury.
• Both sides can respond to what each other says.
Work with a team of 2 people. Each of you will have one role. Your team needs to have two lawyers. One lawyer will defend the plaintiff and the other will defend the defendant.
Prosecuting Lawyer: It is your job to convince the jury a law/laws have been broken. They do not know the story. You must tell it!Prosecuting Lawyer's Assignment:
1. First state which laws were broken. Provide the evidence to supports your case.
2. Make sure you are organized.
3. Be dramatic, you want to convince the jury a horrible crime has taken place.
Defending lawyer: It is your job to convince the jury a law/laws has not been broken or that there was a good reason for it. They do not know the story. You must tell it!Your Assignment:
1. You will tell the defendant's side of the story. Provide the evidence to supports your case.
2. Make sure you are organized.
3. Be dramatic, you want to convince the jury a horrible crime has not taken place or that there was a big misunderstanding.
Your team will try your case. The other classmates are the jury. In order to have a successful case, everyone must be prepared. Draw pictures of the crime scene based on the facts in the story on your crime scene worksheet, make props for evidence, dress up like your character, and have fun!
Order of Events
1. Opening statement by the bailiff.
2. Judge welcomes jury and tells the jury about the events that took place (the crime, not the entire story).
3. The Prosecuting lawyer goes first, telling their side of the story.
4. The Defending lawyer goes second, telling their side of the story.
5. There are closing arguments to review the case and convince the jury to make a choice. The Prosecuting lawyer gives their arguments first and then the Defending lawyer gives their arguments.
6. The judge reminds the jury what laws are broken and tells the jury their responsibilities in this case.
7. The jury meets privately to make a decision on the case.
8. A decision is made by the jury and is announced by the judge.
Use this order of events and prepare. Make sure your trial is less than 20 minutes long so that the jury will pay attention. Plan your day in court. The class will be the jury.
You will be graded in five different areas and can earn up to 75 points!
Incomplete0 / Developing
5 / Good effort
10 / Excellent work!
15 / Score
(up to 15 points)
Story
Summary Questions / 1. More than half of the work is not complete.
2. Difficult to read.
3. Several writing errors. / 1. Did not follow all directions.
2. Incomplete worksheet.
3. Several writing errors, may be difficult to read. / 1. Followed all directions.
2. Assignment is mostly complete and neat.
3. Some writing errors. / 1. Followed all directions.
2. Assignment is complete and neat.
3. Correct spelling and punctuation. Complete sentences.
Crime
Scene Questions / 1. More than half of the work is not complete.
2. Too difficult to read.
3. Several writing errors. / 1. Did not follow all directions.
2. Assignment is mostly complete and fairly neat.
3. Some writing errors. / 1. Followed all directions.
2. Assignment is complete and neat.
3. Correct spelling and punctuation. / 1. Completed all the work and included extra information not asked for on the page.
2. Drawing illustrations included in description of the crime scene.
Courtroom Trial
Students speak, listen, and participate in the activity. / 1. No participation. / 1. Did not Participate for the entire presentation.
2. Had trouble at playing role.
3. Difficult to hear. / 1. Participated for the entire presentation.
2. Good job at playing role.
3. Difficult to hear at times. / 1. Participated for the entire presentation.
2. Great job at playing role; believable character.
3. Spoke clearly.
Creativity in the performance / 1. Students did not complete the performance. / 1. Students had trouble being characters.
2. Used little or no visuals.
3. Few arguments from story. / 1. Students were convincing characters.
2. Used visuals and props during case.
3. Interesting arguments used from the story. / 1. Students were convincing characters.
2. Used great visuals and props during case.
3. Interesting, arguments that go beyond the story.
Team performance; did you all get along? / The team did not work together and was not able to complete their presentation. / The team had difficulty working together. There were many arguments. / Everyone worked together to make a great presentation but there were a few arguments. / Everyone worked together respectfully to make a great presentation.
Source: Kid’s Court http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/chavez/fairy/t-index.htm
Disney Films
101 Dalmatians (Animated) 1961
102 Dalmatians 2000
A Bugs Life 1998
A Christmas Carol 2009
A Goofy Movie 1995
Aladdin 1992
Alice in Wonderland 1951
An Extremely Goofy Movie 2000
Atlantis: Milo’s Return 2003
Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2001
Bambi 1942
Bambi II 2006
Basil – The Great Mouse Detective 1986
Beauty and the Beast 1991
Bolt 2008
Brother Bear 2003
Brother Bear 2 2006
Cars 2006
Chicken Little 2005
Cinderella 1950
Dinosaur 2000
Dumbo 1941
Enchanted 2007
Finding Nemo 2003
G-Force 2009
Hercules 1997
Holes 2003
Invincible 2006
James and the Giant Peach 1996
Kronk’s New Groove 2005
Lady and the Tramp 1955
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure 2001
Lilo& Stitch 2002
Lilo and Stitch 2: Stich Has a Glitch 2005
Little Mermaid III – Ariel’s Beginning 2008
Mary Poppins 1964
Meet the Robinsons 2007
Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse 2001
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas 1999
Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas 2004
Monsters, Inc 2001
Mulan 1998
Mulan II 2004
Muppet Treasure Island 1996
Oliver and Company 1988
Peter Pan 1953
Piglet’s Big Movie 2003
Pinocchio 1940
Pocahontas 1995
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World 1998
Ponyo 2009
Ratatouille 2007
Robin Hood 1973
Sleeping Beauty 1959
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937
Song of the South 1946
Tarzan 1999
The AristoCats 1970
The Black Cauldron 1985
The Country Bears 2002
The Emperor’s New Groove 2000
The Fox and the Hound 1981
The Fox and the Hound 2 2006
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1996
The Incredibles 2004
The Jungle Book 1967
The Jungle Book 2 2003
The Lion King 1994
The Lion King 1 1/2 2004
The Lion King II: Simbas Pride 1998
The Little Mermaid 1989
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea 2000
The Princess and the Frog 2009
The Princess Diaries 2001
The Rescuers Down Under 1990
The Sword in the Stone 1963
The Three Musketeers (Animated) 2004
The Wild 2006
Tinker Bell 2008
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure 2009
Toy Story 1995
Toy Story 2 1999
Toy Story 3 2010
Treasure Planet 2002
Up 2009
Wall E 2008
1.02 Activity _4
Landmark Cases
In American History there have been several Supreme Court cases which are considered “landmark.” A landmark case is one in which a significant change to legal precedent (previous cases) or a significant change to law has been made. There are several which are important to understanding the evolution of American Law. You are to go to the following websites and read about each of the following landmark cases. Answer the questions listed about EACH of the cases. When you are done, please save your file and use the “Upload Landmark Cases” link from Moodle to upload the file so I can view it. Thank you!
Case: Marbury v. Madison
Web Site: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_marbury.html
Questions:
1. What is “judicial review?”
2. Who was the Chief Justice at the time?
3. Who were Marbury and Madison?
4. What questions were raised in the case resolution?
5. In which question was the subject of judicial review addressed?
6. What is Original Jurisdiction?
7. Why do you think this case was so incredibly important?
Case: Gideon v Wainwright
Web Site: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_gideon.html
Questions:
1. What was the Supreme Court ruling in this case?
2. Who was Gideon and what did he do?
3. Why did Gideon not have an attorney?
4. Why did the judge not grant him one?
5. What is a habeas corpus petition?
6. Which amendment was violated in Gideon’s Case?
7. What amendment did the court note that the states must abide by because of the due process clause?