Mock Trial Roles & Guidelines

General Rules

Within that 15 minutes you may call any of the scheduled witnesses (present in the court room)

Generally speaking, the attorney on the opposing side is responsible for raising objections which will be either sustained or overruled by the judge.

If the judge sustains an objection, the attorney must withdraw and/or revise the line of question accordingly.

You can only ask the witness questions*; you may not make comments to the witness; paraphrase the witness’s response; or in any way presume to speak for the witness or to the witness on the behalf of your client

Once one side has finished questioning a witness, the other side will have 2 minutes for a redirect regardless of whether they also plan to call the witness. Redirect questions must be related to the questions and/or responses just raised by the other side’s line of questioning. You may not begin new and/or unrelated lines of questioning during the redirects.

*Questions to the witness should be: –
- clear & coherent-
- concise & precise-
- relevant to the case-
- within the particular scope of issues on which the witness has been called forth to speak.

Questions should NOT–
- lead the witness-
- badger the witness-
- require witnesses to speak for or on behalf of any party other than the witness –
- be repetitive (If a witness answers, you cannot ask the same question again.)- be outside the witness’s scope of expertise and/or relevant experience-
- be based on hearsay or encourage responses that may forward hearsay-
- speculate for the witness and/or ask the witness to speculate on hypothetical information

Defendants –
- Work with defense attorneys to build case.
- Enter plea at the start of the trial.
- May be called to the stand by defense, in which case may be subjected to prosecution redirect.
- May offer in lieu of the defense’s closing argument an up to 1 minute address to the court.

Prosecution time tracker-
- Tallies minutes prosecution spends making arguments, questioning witnesses, and redirecting defense’s witness questions.
- Raises 7 minute and 3 minute warning flags at 7 and 3 minutes respectively.
Defense time tracker –
- Tallies minutes defense spends making arguments, questioning witnesses, and redirecting prosecution’s witness questions.
- Raises 7 minute and 3 minute warning flags at 7 and 3 minutes respectively.
Redirect time keepers (potentially 2) –
- Tracks the time of each redirect.
- Provides 30 second warning flag at the 30 second mark.
Bailiff –
- Holds witness rosters;
- Escorts witnesses in and out of court room;
- Swears witnesses in
- Keeps track of overall case time;
- Assists judge with miscellany
Court stenographer One –
- Records all aspects of the trial, paying especial attention to arguments raised and evidence submitted by both sides.
Court stenographer Two –
- Records all aspects of the trial, paying particular attention to redirects, objections raised, and rulings on objections.
Court stenographer Three-
- Records all aspects of the trial, paying special attention to questions posed to witnesses and witnesses response.