YOUR GUIDE TO THE MOCK TRIAL

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)