NCJ Number
56496
Journal
Judicature Volume: 62 Issue: 9 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 422-424
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY THE CHICAGO BAR TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HOW THE COURT SYSTEM WORKS IS DESCRIBED; ALTHOUGH NO LONGER OPERATING, THE PROGRAM WAS SOUND AND COULD BE DUPLICATED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 1959 BY THE AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION. IT USED A FILM SHOWING THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO AN AUTO-PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT. THE FILM CONSISTED OF FIVE SEPARATE PARTS; THUS FIVE 'WITNESSES' SAW THE EVENT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE--THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DRIVER, THE PEDESTRIAN-VICTIM, THE PEDESTRIAN'S FRIEND, AND THE TWO BYSTANDERS. BEFORE THE TRIAL, THE STUDENTS APPOINTED FIVE PERSONS TO BE WITNESSES OR PARTIES TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY ALSO SELECTED A CLERK AND A BAILIFF WHO LEARNED THEIR ROLES. THE LAWYERS AND THE JUDGE ARE BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS, WHO PREPARE DIAGRAMS USING THE NAMES OF STREETS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA AND OTHERWISE ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE ACCIDENT SEEM REAL. STUDENTS ALSO SERVE AS JURORS. AFTER THE MOCK TRIAL, THE FIVE FILM VERSIONS WHICH HAD BEEN SHOWN TO THE 'WITNESSES' ARE SHOWN TO THE STUDENT GROUP AS A WHOLE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE TASK FACING A LAWYER WHO TRIES TO PIECE TOGETHER THE FACTS FROM THE BITS OF INFORMATION CONTRIBUTED BY EACH WITNESS. BETWEEN 1959 AND 1973 THE CHICAGO BAR ASSOCIATION CONDUCTED 12 TO 20 PROGRAMS PER YEAR IN CITY HIGH SCHOOLS, REACHING ABOUT 15,000 STUDENTS. TEACHERS AND CIVIC LEADERS WERE ENTHUSIASTIC. THE PROGRAM WAS DROPPED BECAUSE THE FILM BECAME WORN AND DATED AND THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS MOVED ON TO OTHER PURSUITS. THE PROGRAM COULD EASILY BE DUPLICATED AND WOULD CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO CITIZEN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COURTS. (GLR)