{"id":1599,"date":"2016-08-30T14:55:04","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T14:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ojen.turnbull.co\/?page_id=1599"},"modified":"2025-07-18T09:02:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T13:02:19","slug":"mock-trial-how-to","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ojen2024.turnbull.co\/en\/resources\/videos\/mock-trial-how-to","title":{"rendered":"Mock Trial Step-by-Step"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mock hearings are a great way to expose students to legal topics in a variety of courses across the curriculum. They provide an opportunity for students to develop advocacy and inquiry skills, explore career modelling, work cooperatively, develop critical thinking, build conflict resolution skills and develop relationships with justice sector professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Welcome <\/h4>

Introduction to Mock Trial Step-by-Step: The Crime.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Opening Proceedings <\/h4>

Opening Proceedings cover the administrative and procedural steps that happen before the trial begins.<\/p>

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Arraignment and Plea <\/h4>

An arraignment involves the accused being identified and called to the bar. The charge is then read to the accused, and they are asked for their plea. The accused then either pleads \u2018guilty\u2019 or \u2018not guilty\u2019.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Opening Statements <\/h4>

An opening statement is given by both the Crown and Defence. This gives each side a chance to lay out what they will be arguing, and which evidence they intend to call, including documents or exhibits, as well as witnesses they intend to call.<\/p>

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Swearing in a Witness <\/h4>

The process by which a witness in the trial promises to tell the court the truth, either by way of a holy book or an affirmation.<\/p>

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Examining a Witness <\/h4>

A witness examination involves a series of questions asked by a lawyer to a witness in a trial. The witness must then answer those questions truthfully, and to the best of their ability.<\/p>

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Direct Examination <\/h4>

A direct examination, or, examining a witness \u2018on direct\u2019, is an examination where the lawyer asking the questions is the one who has called that particular witness to assist their case.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Cross Examination <\/h4>

A cross examination, or, examining a witness \u2018on cross\u2019, is an examination where the lawyer asking the questions is not the one who has called that particular witness to assist their case. In other words, they are asking questions of the other side\u2019s witness.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Re-examination <\/h4>

After the completion of a witness\u2019 direct and cross examination, the direct examiner is given the opportunity re-examine their witness. This opportunity is given in order to clarify or further explain any issues which came up on on their witness\u2019 cross examination.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Introduction of Evidence <\/h4>

Evidence to be introduced to the court can be a physical piece of evidence, or a document. This evidence must be authenticated before it can become part of the court\u2019s record.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Objections <\/h4>

A lawyer will raise an objection if they have an issue with a question the opposing lawyer is asking, or the evidence they anticipate the witness is about to give. The opposing lawyer may respond to the objection, and the judge will either sustain the objection and ask the lawyer asking the question to rephrase, or side with the party conducting the examination by overruling the objection.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Police Officer Testimony <\/h4>

Police officer testimony is somewhat different than a typical witness \u2013 police witnesses are allowed to use their notes during their testimony.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Defence Calling Evidence <\/h4>

Defence chooses whether or not to call evidence. Because the Crown has the burden of proving their case against the accused, at the end of the Crown\u2019s case, Defence may choose not to call evidence if they believe the Crown has not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Introduction of an Accused\u2019s Criminal Record <\/h4>

If the Accused has a previous criminal record, they may be questioned on it during cross examination. Defence can choose whether to preemptively address this in their direct examination of the accused.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Closing Statement <\/h4>

Each side gives a closing statement at the conclusion of the trial, after all evidence has been given. Each lawyer will give a summary of the evidence the judge heard on the key issues, and offer their opinion on the reasons the judge has to find in their favour.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article>
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Judge\u2019s Feedback and Decision <\/h4>

After the conclusion of the mock trial, there is an opportunity for the Judge to give their feedback to participants, including tips on what worked and what didn\u2019t, and advice for the future. The Judge may also give a decision on which way they may have ruled if this were a real case.<\/p>

Learn more<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/article><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mock hearings are a great way to expose students to legal topics in a variety of courses across the curriculum. They provide an opportunity for students to develop advocacy and inquiry skills, explore career modelling, work cooperatively, develop critical thinking, build conflict resolution skills and develop relationships with justice sector professionals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1593,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-blocks.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","inline_featured_image":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1599","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":null,"yoast_head":"\nMock Trial Step-by-Step - OJEN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mock Trial Step-by-Step - OJEN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Mock hearings are a great way to expose students to legal topics in a variety of courses across the curriculum. 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