What was my role in a mock trial? I was a juror on both days to be exact. My job was to take notes and listen to both sides of the case, the prosecution and the defense team. I thought that being a juror would be fun, but it’s really not. Its hard to judge somebody knowing that your decision would prove this person guilty or not guilty, and knowing that your decision will change this person’s life forever. This is what happens to a juror/ jury when they’re listening to a case and then have to decide on a verdict. In the trial of Friar Lawrence, he had four charges: 1) Involuntary Manslaughter 2) Prescribing Medicine Without A License 3) Assisting Suicide 4) Failure to Report a Dead Body. On the first day of the trial the prosecution came to the stand with Friar Lawrence and asked “do you know what was in the potion you gave Juliet?” his response “no …show more content…
Another thing that I think went really well is how the reporters were asking very good questions after the trials and how witnesses were able to answer the questions given to them without stuttering. All in all I think the trial went completely well, there were a few mess ups here and there but we made it through them. Not everything can be perfect, right? They weren't horrible mess ups so it’s fine. Everything can be improved right? What is something that can be improved in a mock trial? I think one thing that could be improved is where we were during the mock trial. There was allot of noise and distractions, and it was hard to hear what witnesses, prosecution and defense were saying. I think another thing that could have been changed is how many jurors there are I think there should have been so many the first day and so many the next, and have whoever wasn't in the jury an audience member, but have them take notes of course. That way it doesn't get boring to
While weeping over what Juliet would think of him after finding out he killed Tybalt, he was relieved to know that Juliet still loved him, “Go before, Nurse commend me to thy lady,/ And bid her hasten all the house to bed,/ Which heavy sorrows make the apt unto./Romeo is coming” (Shakespeare 3.3.155). Friar knew about Romeo and Juliet’s secret romance from the beginning, but he did not do anything to stop it, in fact, it was Friar who married the two. Friar Lawrence knew what could happen, but his only advice was to take slow. In addition, Friar Lawrence also gave Juliet the potion to put her into a fake death so she could avoid marrying Paris. After putting in serious consideration about drinking the potion Juliet decided to take the chance. “Take this vial, being then in bed,/ And this distilling liquor thou off,/ When presently through all thy veins shall run/ A cold drowsy humour” (4.1.90-91). Friar gave Juliet the potion because she said she would rather kill herself than marry Paris and after saying that Friar came up with the
Friar Lawrence advises Juliet to drink a substance before going to bed that will make her appear to be dead and unresponsive, but she will wake up within a day. This demonstrates unethical, immature and irresponsible behaviour, which leads to Romeo and Juliet’s death. “Take thou this vial, being then in bed./And this distilled liquor drink thou off,/when presently through all thy veins shall run/A cold drowsy humor, for no pulse.” (4.1.94-97) In this quote, Friar Lawrence instructs Juliet to lie to the Nurse and drink a substance before going to sleep, when the Nurse and Lady Capulet will wake her, she will appear dead; with the hopes that Romeo will come and their relationship will be saved, unfortunately this is not the case. Friar Lawrence’s plan is thoughtless, after Juliet is aware of the plan and has the potion; Friar is advised that Romeo did not receive the letter. This causes Romeo and Juliet’s untimely death. “A grave? Oh, no. A lantern, slaughtered youth,/ for here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes/This vault a feasting presence full of light/Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interred.” (5.3.84-87) At the sight of Juliet’s body, Romeo becomes so overwhelmed with grief
In the United States, jury trials are an important part of our court system. We rely heavily on the jury to decide the fate of the accused. We don’t give a second thought to having a jury trial now, but they were not always the ‘norm’.
As the jury’s deliberation session commences, the jurors have the privilege of familiarizing with one another. In their conversation, the audience cannot help but recognize the informal anonymity in their feeling that the defendant is guilty of his accused crime. However, before during these moments, juror 2 makes it clear that he has never been in jury before, while juror 3 confesses that he was asleep during the court session. Even more interesting, juror 7 makes it clear that he is in a hurry to attend a ball game, and as such, the jury ought to finalize their general reaction from the court sessions to a guilty verdict. When the jurors ultimately take their positions around the jury table, jury 4 suggests that the jurors should take a preliminary vote, as the jury customs dictates.
Now that we have discussed the pretrial occurrences, we get into the trial portion of the court process. This is the portion of the process in which both the defense and the prosecution present their cases to the jury, the judge, and the rest of the courtroom. To select a jury, the bring in potential jurors and ask them questions,
Resulting in the death of herself, Friar Lawrence had even said, "If.thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself.take thou this vial.no warmth, no breath shall testify the livest." He should have been more careful, Friar. Laurence's idea for Juliet was very risky and because of his own ignorance has ended up in tragedy. He also admits that he left the tomb and left Juliet there. The Friar knew that Juliet had previously threatened to kill herself, yet he still abandoned her with Romeo's knife.
Hoiberg, B., & Stires, L. (1973). The effect of several types of pretrial publicity on the guilt attributions of simulated jurors. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 3(3), 267-275.
Despite his conscience, Friar Lawrence reveals a potion that will put Juliet to a false death, in the “Potion Plan” scene. His motivation was caused by the weeping and tears of Juliet who was in the hands of a twisted marriage against her will. She had already been married to her love, but now that promise was in danger of being broken. From the few lines that the friar speaks, the audience realizes that this friar is certainly not the stereotype friar that goes around trying to live an impossible life of perfection.
I had practiced it before, but this time it was for real. Well, as real as a college mock trial tournament can get. I objected, pointed, and did squat thrusts during 10-minute breaks. During the trial, I paused for a few seconds of silence and methodically tied up the loose ends of my closing monologue. My mock trial team sat quietly for a couple of minutes until the judges offered some feedback and tabulated the scores. Unfortunately, we lost in a landslide and would not be moving on to the final round of competition. Before our team departed from Ithaca, however, we still had to sit through closing ceremonies, where team and individual awards would be distributed. We arrived to the function with our head between our tales, but when they read the award for best mock trial attorney, my name was called. I was shocked and utterly ecstatic. I was even surprised that it wasn't a run of the mill paper award I had won, but actually a wooden plaque with some official looking carvings. It wasn't an Academy award or Nobel Prize, but for someone who had practiced relentlessly for months, it su...
...juries can be swayed by either the defense or prosecution in a case hearing as well as jurors can often rush to make a decision even though it necessarily is not the correct one, in order to finish the process and return to their normal lives. The list of disadvantages by having a jury by trial can go on and on if allowed although, many citizens tend to feel negatively towards the dutiful task of jury duty. Overall, understanding and realizing the many benefits of having a jury is most important especially in America. Other countries do not often have trials by jury. The democracy of the United States enables the people to have a say in their own local government by providing the opportunity to serve on a jury of their peers. Even though controversies arise, in the past and possibly the present juries will still prove to provide different outlooks and fair verdicts.
videotaping of a real life jury as seen in a small criminal courtroom. The case
Something happened my sophomore year of high school that little did I know would change my perspective, not only of myself, but life in general. I was looking for something new and exciting to enhance my high school existence and decided to give the Criminal Justice Club a try. I was familiar with the advisor of the club, but knew that the club had astigmatism for attracting those students who were just looking for something easy to do. I knew about the criminal justice system, but only what they show on Law and Order. However, I immediately fell in love, not only with the club but the entire prospect of Criminal Justice. I stepped into the club as if it were a place I belonged and easily became a leader. I was able to learn things the TV shows
I have been involved in Mock Trial since freshman year and it has taught me many valuable skills from critical thinking to thinking on my feet. It has also afforded me a newfound confidence in my public speaking skills. We are provided with a different case each year, alternating between civil and criminal cases, and must create a case theory and understand the entirety of the case, from the law, to the burden of proof we must provide. Mock trial has taught me not only these skills above, but it has also has taught me dedication and time management. I also truly learned how to be a team player through this activity. Although law may seem like a solo task, the team would not win regionals and not perform well at state if we did not support
I entered the jury deliberation not guilty, and I left not guilty. I remained not guilty despite the pressure from my fellow jurors to “compromise” at a second degree murder verdict (which was not a compromise from my perspective at all) or to go all the way up to a first degree murder charge. I thought that this case was an easy “not guilty.” It definitely was not.
I would like to elaborate further on my experience with the Mock Trial team. Mock Trial is an activity that focuses around a case created by the Minnesota Bar Association. Teams practice arguing the case by merit, and it promotes skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and working with a team. I have been on my high school’s Mock Trial team since I was a freshman, and I believe it has greatly improved my abilities in all three aforementioned areas. The competitions for Mock Trial are held in actual courtrooms in front of actual judges. I was terrified my first competition; I remember my hands sweating and my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Four years later, I find improvising 7 minute closing statements while in