Criminal Law: Issues of poisoning, assault with a deadly weapon, and search and seizure
After two students are poisoned at a high school club initiation, police arrest a member of the "pledge class" who seems to have a motive of revenge for hazing and blackballing. In an optional pretrial argument on whether the search of the student's computer and seizure of computer files was legal, students can argue issues based on the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
Mock trials developed by the Constitutional Rights Foundation include the facts of a hypothetical case, witness statements, relevant legal authorities, complete trial instructions, and procedural guidelines. Each also contains an optional pretrial motion designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of constitutional issues related to the criminal trial process.
Mock trials at this grade level are not scripts, but rather give a set of facts and allow witnesses and lawyers to create testimony and questioning consistent with the facts. They typically have about eight speaking parts. They can usually be presented in one class period or adapted to be presented in that period, but most could take more time if it were available. These mock trials are suggested for use with students in grades 7-12.
Other mock trials are also available at the same price. Please visit our full listing of mock trials for more information.
