Supreme Court Simulation

Below you will find links that will assist you in your research in the court cases we will hear in class. Be sure to find as much evidence and precedents you can to make your case as strong as possible. Also, be sure to research the case you are serving as a justice for, you will need to be familiar with those also.

Supreme Court Simulation Description

Attorney, Justice, and Reporter Forms (Purple Sheet)

The Cases

Oyez.org

Bill of Rights Institute

OPENING STATEMENTS

Remember: Everyone on your team must present a portion of the opening statement

OPENING STATEMENTS

What to know and consider before drafting an opening statement

Can you tell a brief story about what happened from your side’s point of view?
What are the key elements that have to be proved (by you or the other side)?
What do you anticipate the evidence will show?
What are the important facts your side’s witnesses will testify to?
What themes (words and phrases that convey emotions) do you want to emphasize?
Who has the burden of proof and what is it?
What do you want the jury to do?
How much time do you have?

Parts of an opening statement

Greet the justices and introduce yourself.
Briefly state the facts of the case.
Introduce your client and make an emotional appeal to the justices. Personalize the issues and your client (role).
Introduce the other sides, what they will try to do, and why they’re wrong in their claims.
Present a theory for the case and explain how this will be proved. Explain why this is the only explanation the justices will be able to accept.
Present some key evidence and show how they support the case
Tell the justices what they will have to understand as well as their responsibilities in this trial.
Conclude with the major takeaway, or the most important point of the case.

Closing Statements

CLOSING STATEMENTS

Prepare an outline. DO NOT WING IT! IT WILL SHOW
Re-establish the theory for the case- what are the big issues?
Review the facts that support your theory- what is the evidence that supports your case?
Be sure to challenge the opposition’s case. Question their overall opinion and identify the gaps in their theory.
Conclude with emotion, a call to action. Bring it back to why this case matters to them and to others like them.
Practice Practice Practice: Although some pieces of the closing will come from what is discussed during the trial, it is possible to predict many of these and be ready to finish strong!