CJA/224 Version 3 / 1
Week Two Learning Activities
activity One
Objective of Activity
Describe the various courtroom participants.
Description of Activity
Form teams of three to five students. Assign one of the following to each of the groups:
- Judge
- Prosecutor
- Defense attorney
- Defendant
- Victim
- Juror
Provide each group with 10 minutes to discuss their assigned topic and that person’s key purpose and affect on the overall criminal court system.
Then, have each group select a spokesperson to share the groups’ discussion, findings, and conclusion with the rest of the class in 5 minutes or less.
Resources Required
None
Approximate Time
20 minutes
Online Adaptation?
Yes
This activity may be adapted to online classes by eliminating the time limits on each phase of the activity and having students respond in a written format.
activity TWo
Objective of Activity
Analyze the need for independent counsel.
Description of Activity
Form teams of three to five students.Assign one team to be in favor of thegovernment’s need for independent counsel and the other team to be opposed to this need. Providethe teams 15 minutes to discuss and identify their arguments.
Have each team select a spokesperson to present the teams’ argument and conclusion to the rest of the class in 5 minutes or less. Allow 5 minutes for rebuttal. During your debriefing, focus on the students’ conclusions and their rationale.
Resources Required
None
Approximate Time
30 minutes
Online Adaptation?
Yes
This activity may be adapted to online classes by eliminating the time limits on each phase of the activity and having students respond in a written format.
activity three
Objective of Activity
Analyze the roles of defense attorneys and prosecutors.
Description of Activity
Form teams of three to five students. Give each group 15 minutes to share anecdotes about famous defense attorneys (Johnny Cochran, F. Lee Bailey, Roy Black, Samuel S. Leibowitz, or others) and famous prosecutors (Rudy Guiliani, Vincent Bugliosi, Thomas Dewey, Robert F. Kennedy, Marsha Clark, or others). Have each group discuss and answer whether or not it is the cases that make the attorneys famous, or whether it is the attorneys themselves who make the casesfamous. Additionally, askstudents to review what characteristics comprise a successful defense attorney or prosecutor.
Lastly, ask each group to select a spokesperson to share the groups’ discussion, findings, and conclusion with the rest of the class in 5 minutes or less.
Resources Required
None
Approximate Time
20 minutes
Online Adaptation?
Yes
This activity may be adapted to online classes by eliminating the time limits on each phase of the activity and having students respond in a written format.
activity FOUR
Objective of Activity
Describe acts of misconduct by prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and jurors.
Description of Activity
Divide the class into small groups.Have each group review websites that chronicle instances of misconduct, such as:
- Second-class justice
- Innocence Project
- Caught
Have each group find one example of misconduct for each of the following: prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and jurors.Have each group discuss why the misconduct occurred, what remedy was obtained by the defendant, what discipline was imposed for the misconduct, and how this misconduct can be prevented in the future.
Then, have each group select a spokesperson to share the groups’ discussion, findings, and conclusion with the rest of the class in 5 minutes or less.
Resources Required
None
Approximate Time
20 minutes
Online Adaptation?
Yes
This activity may be adapted to online classes by eliminating the time limits on each phase of the activity and having students respond in a written format.
activity FIVE
Objective of Activity
Analyze the affect of financial resources on the outcome of judicial proceedings.
Description of Activity
Form teams of three to five students. Have each group discuss how the concept of justice differs between poor litigants and celebrity litigants.Does money buy better justice as some contend?What is the remedy?
Ask each group to select a spokesperson to share the groups’ discussion, findings, and conclusion with the rest of the class in 5 minutes or less.
Resources Required
None
Approximate Time
20 minutes
Online Adaptation?
Yes
This activity may be adapted to online classes by eliminating the time limits on each phase of the activity and having students respond in a written format.