Captains' Meeting
Before every round, each team sends two representatives to the Captains' Meeting. In this meeting, the captains will pick witnesses and review the opposing team's demonstratives (which are enlargements of materials in the case that will be used during the round)
Pretrial
As soon as the judges come into the room and are situated, they will generally ask if the two sides are ready to proceed. At this point, a brief pretrial will take place in which teams can introduce themselves to the judges and offer documents to the bench (to the judge)
Opening Statements
After pretrial, the judge will ask for an opening statement from the prosecution, which will be followed by one from the defense. The attorney delivering this statement has 5 minutes to layout the general issue at hand for the jury, giving them a roadmap for the trial. Who stands accused? What are the supposed to have done? What witnesses will we hear from? What are we supposed to do about it later? These speeches provide both sides of the case the opportunity to tell their story - without being argumentative.
Prosecution Case in Chief
Following opening statements, the prosecution will lay out its case. In their Case in Chief, the prosecution will call three witnesses who will help to bring out the facts for their side of the case and build a convincing story. The three attorneys from the prosecution will each conduct a direct examination with one witness, and the defense will be allowed to cross examine them as well.
Direct Examination
A direct examination is basically a conversation between an attorney for one side and the witness that side called. The attorney will ask questions and the witness will answer. These questions, however, must be open-ended and cannot lead the witness. For instance, the question "Do you know the defendant?" is allowed while "Isn't it true that you know the defendant?" is not. All three direct examinations are allowed to take up to 30 minutes.
Cross Examination
The opposite to a direct examination is, you guessed it, a cross examination. A cross examination is a chance for an opposing attorney to challenge the facts brought out on direct examination - and to bring out facts of their own. A crossing attorney is allowed to use leading questions to guide the witness. In comparison with direct examination, the cross is generally shorter, and the focus is on the attorney rather than the witness.
A Brief 5-10 Minute Recess
One of the most beloved phrases of any mock trial round generally follows the first Case in Chief. The Prosecution will rest their case and request a brief recess in which the team members exit the courtroom to confer about what occured during the first part of the case - and to stretch their legs.
Defense Case in Chief
In mirror image of the Prosecution Case in Chief, the defense will call three witnesses to tell their side of the story on direct examination, and the prosecuting attorneys will be given the opportunity to cross examine them.
Closing Arguments
After both Cases in Chief have concluded, each side will give a closing argument. The closing argument is delivered by one attorney from each side and should bring together all of the facts of the case, persuading the jury to decide one way or the other. Both attorneys have 9 minutes for closing arguments. The prosecuting attorney will start, followed by the defense attorney, and then the prosecuting attorney may use any remaining time for a rebuttal.
Before every round, each team sends two representatives to the Captains' Meeting. In this meeting, the captains will pick witnesses and review the opposing team's demonstratives (which are enlargements of materials in the case that will be used during the round)
Pretrial
As soon as the judges come into the room and are situated, they will generally ask if the two sides are ready to proceed. At this point, a brief pretrial will take place in which teams can introduce themselves to the judges and offer documents to the bench (to the judge)
Opening Statements
After pretrial, the judge will ask for an opening statement from the prosecution, which will be followed by one from the defense. The attorney delivering this statement has 5 minutes to layout the general issue at hand for the jury, giving them a roadmap for the trial. Who stands accused? What are the supposed to have done? What witnesses will we hear from? What are we supposed to do about it later? These speeches provide both sides of the case the opportunity to tell their story - without being argumentative.
Prosecution Case in Chief
Following opening statements, the prosecution will lay out its case. In their Case in Chief, the prosecution will call three witnesses who will help to bring out the facts for their side of the case and build a convincing story. The three attorneys from the prosecution will each conduct a direct examination with one witness, and the defense will be allowed to cross examine them as well.
Direct Examination
A direct examination is basically a conversation between an attorney for one side and the witness that side called. The attorney will ask questions and the witness will answer. These questions, however, must be open-ended and cannot lead the witness. For instance, the question "Do you know the defendant?" is allowed while "Isn't it true that you know the defendant?" is not. All three direct examinations are allowed to take up to 30 minutes.
Cross Examination
The opposite to a direct examination is, you guessed it, a cross examination. A cross examination is a chance for an opposing attorney to challenge the facts brought out on direct examination - and to bring out facts of their own. A crossing attorney is allowed to use leading questions to guide the witness. In comparison with direct examination, the cross is generally shorter, and the focus is on the attorney rather than the witness.
A Brief 5-10 Minute Recess
One of the most beloved phrases of any mock trial round generally follows the first Case in Chief. The Prosecution will rest their case and request a brief recess in which the team members exit the courtroom to confer about what occured during the first part of the case - and to stretch their legs.
Defense Case in Chief
In mirror image of the Prosecution Case in Chief, the defense will call three witnesses to tell their side of the story on direct examination, and the prosecuting attorneys will be given the opportunity to cross examine them.
Closing Arguments
After both Cases in Chief have concluded, each side will give a closing argument. The closing argument is delivered by one attorney from each side and should bring together all of the facts of the case, persuading the jury to decide one way or the other. Both attorneys have 9 minutes for closing arguments. The prosecuting attorney will start, followed by the defense attorney, and then the prosecuting attorney may use any remaining time for a rebuttal.