stand trial for murder. While the character dies before
the end of the book (1967 spoilers!) and isn’t forced to
face legal repercussions, Finnegan told us the mock trial
can take place at any point in the timeline — whatever is
convenient to make the trial work.
From there, it’s time to set up the trial. Finnegan
explained that from early on, staff members and
volunteers from The Rendell Center are actively working
to educate students, guide the program, and ensure
everything is as realistic as possible.
“The Rendell Center comes in to lead the program,” she
said. “They talk about the legal system and what goes
on in a courtroom. They define the difference between
a rule and a law, and they help students understand
vocabulary, so they know (for instance) what a defendant
and a plaintiff are.”
Finnegan explained that legal volunteers from the center
helped children differentiate between first- and second-
degree murder, ultimately deciding to try Johnny for
the latter.
Throughout the program, the teacher is more of a
facilitator and coach. The students, meanwhile, do the
vast majority of the work preparing a trial.
“The class is divided between the defense and the
prosecution,” Finnegan explained. “Role selection is
handled by the students within their groups with the
stipulation that everyone has a job and everyone has an
opportunity to speak. So we have multiple attorneys on
each side, and each side has a bailiff, for instance.”
“When teams are set, students go back into the
text to find evidence. Each team prepares their
side, preparing a legal script for the trial,”
Finnegan continued. “Formulating questions
for the examination of witnesses and cross-
examinations is a challenge. The students have to
use the text to support their rationale for asking
a question, and think about how the opposing side
might use the answer. It’s hard, but I love that it
forces them to take a closer look at the text — it
inspires lots of great thinking!”
When each side’s script is ready, The Rendell Center
sends additional volunteers, often lawyers, to polish both
scripts. They ensure the terminology is legitimate and
realistic, and that mistakes made by one side are objected
to appropriately by the opposing counsel.
“Everything you would prepare for a real trial, these kids
do on a lower level,” Finnegan remarked.
With all case-work complete, it’s ti me for practice… and
lots of it. After all, students participating in The Rendell
Center’s program must play their roles in front of an
actual judge!
ABOUT THE
RENDELL CENTER
Founded in 2014 by Governor
Edward Rendell and Judge
Marjorie Rendell, The Rendell
Center for Civics & Civic
Engagement is a non-profit
organization that provides
programming and resources
for Pennsylvania teachers
and students.
Learn more about The Rendell
Center here.
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