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Illinois YMCAYouth and Government
Judicial Program
Pre-Leg II - 2012
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Agenda Big Group Stuff Part 1 (about 60 minutes)
Introductions, Attendance, Other “Official” Stuff Review stare decisis and hierarchy of courts Legal Argument/IRAC
Analysis of Cited Cases (about 90 minutes)
Big Group Stuff Part 2 (about 45 minutes)
Bench Memo Expectations Oral Argument Upcoming Dates/Schedule Wrap-Up
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Review of Stare Decisis
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Stare Decisis
Definition “Let the decision stand”
Each case may involve its own specific facts, but there is a general principle or legal rule that applies to the fact pattern Similar cases are decided the same way If the facts and issues are the same, result should be
the same Consistency breeds confidence in the legal system People are supposed to know what the rules are
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Using Stare Decisis
Involves an analysis of facts and rules Attempts to determine if the case is similar to
previous cases If the case is different, asks if the differences were
important or unimportant Ultimately, two arguments for attorneys:
My case is just like this case… My case is not like this case… (in fact, it’s more like
this other case…)
AND HERE IS WHY…
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Organization of Illinois Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
Federal Circuit Court
Federal District Court
Illinois Supreme Court
District Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
State Courts
Federal Courts
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Legal Argument
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Legal Argument
I R A C (Learn it, Live it, Love it…)
IssueRuleApplicationConclusion
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Issue
What is the Specific Issue Presented? Why Does it Matter?
Remember to start with the most basic premise – the right to a fair trial
Where does that right come from?
How does your issue affect whether the Defendant got a fair trial?
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Rule
What is the rule of law with respect to your issue? Use word-for-word quotes & jump-cites If the cases reveal more than one “rule of law”
Use the Supreme Court’s version Bolster it in your favor with the “rule” from other cases
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Application Find the fact-pattern in the cited case relevant to
your issue from the case at bar. Compare or contrast the fact-pattern from the
case at bar to the fact-pattern in the cited case: Does the cited case have a result that you want the court to
follow for the case at bar? Then show how the two fact patterns are similar at a material level (analogize)
Do you want a different result for the case at bar than how the court ruled in the cited case? Then show how the two fact patterns are different at a material level (differentiate)
Describe how the rule of law from the cited case should be applied to the case at bar based on your comparison of the fact-patterns
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Conclusion
State your conclusion and the action you wish the court to take :
“For the foregoing reasons, the [State-Appellee, or Defendant-Appellant] respectfully requests that this court [affirm, or reverse and remand] the decision of the trial court with respect to the issue presented.”
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Anatomy ofCited Cases
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Anatomy of Published Opinions
Caption The court The parties Case number Date decision
Case summary by the publisher Not written or approved by the court – DO NOT CITE
Head notes and key numbers Important to research Shortcut to finding statements of law and holdings Not written or approved by the court – DO NOT CITE
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The Opinion
Name of the judge(s) who authored and/or joined the opinion
Typical 1st paragraph Summary of the procedural context and the issue on
appeal
Discussion of the facts as established at trial Review of the issues to be decided and their
procedural context
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The Opinion cont.
Discussion of each issue Focus on the issue that relates to your issue
Review of applicable law Statutes Cases
Application of the law to the facts of the case Holding on each issue Ruling
Affirm Reverse Reverse and Remand
Concurrences and dissents
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Bench Memo
(cue the ominous music)
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What is Y&G looking for
Format and Appearance Writing Quality Legal Research Legal Reasoning (Legal Argument)
But the priorities are: Legal Reasoning (12 points) Format & Appearance (5 points) Writing Quality (5 points) Legal Research (3 points)
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Format and Appearance
Font Preferred font/size is Times New Roman 12 point.
Spacing Double-spaced 1” margins
Cover Page Reminder: make sure you correctly list that your team is for the
Defendant-Appellant or State-Appellee!!!! Points and Authorities
Reminder: you must use (and are limited to) ALL four cited cases for each issue in the Appeal Facts
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When to Block Quote
When you use a quote of 50 words or more (or 3 lines of text)
Format Indented .5” from left margin Single spaced with a blank line before and after Do not need quotation marks around a block quote
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Writing Quality
Clear and concise writing Don’t try sounding too fancy Don’t overuse the thesaurus
Grammar, punctuation, spell check Make sure to check and double check Trial, not trail, Whose vs. who’s Comma splices, noun/verb agreement, etc If it doesn’t make sense to others, try again
Tone Professional tone is important First /second person (I/we/you) is not appropriate Consider your phrasing
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Legal Research
Y&G uses closed research We provide you with 4 cases for each issue You MUST use all 4 cited cases in each
argument
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Legal Reasoning Each Argument has two issues presented
Start each Issue Presented section of your argument with a heading that is a declarative sentence stating your position
Examples? Follow IRAC in your written presentation
Issue – state the issue Rule – state the rule of law Application – apply the law to your facts Conclusion – state your conclusion and what action you want
the court to take
Or more specifically…
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Legal Reasoning (continued) IRAC
Issue What is the issue, and why does it matter?
Rule Give the general rule(s) of law applicable to your issue
(quote it, cite it) Application
Organize the four cases in an order that makes sense Discuss each of the four cited cases
Which one(s) are binding precedent? Explain why the ones “for you” are similar to the case at bar Explain why the cases “against you” are different from the case
at bar Conclusion
State your conclusion & request court decide in your favor (“For the foregoing reasons…”)
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How to cite a case
The full citation is located at the top of the first page of the opinion.
only needed the first time you refer to a case
Example proper full citation: People v. Holman, 103 Ill.2d 133, 469 N.E.2d 119,
82 Ill.Dec. 585(1984) Case name, official reporter(s), unofficial reporter(s),
(Appellate District if applicable, year opinion issued)
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“Jump Cites”
Every time you are referring to content at a specific page, provide the “jump cite”
E.g., *135, **121, ***587 are scattered throughout the text of the cited cases.
The * numbers refer to page breaks in the printed opinion The number of *s tells you which reporter that page number
is in For the first citation to a case (as part of the full
citation), list the “jump cite” for each reporter Proper full cite would be People v. Holman, 103 Ill.2d 133,
135, 469 N.E.2d 119, 121, 82 Ill.Dec.585,587 (1984).
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Short Case Citation
For all citations after the first (full) citation use a short citation (with the “jump cite”) When the case name is not used in the sentence
proper cite is: … last words of sentence. People v. Holman, 103 Ill.2d at
135.
When the case name is in the sentence proper cite is: It was held in People v. Holman that “evidence of past
offenses could not be used for something,” unlike in the case at bar. 1013 Ill.2d 135.
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Oral Advocacy
“In a nutshell”
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Oral Argument
What is an oral argument A conversation among lawyers
How do you start “May it please the court…”
Order of argument Defendant-Appellant goes first (has the burden of
proof) State-Appellee goes second Defendant-Appellant gets rebuttal
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What You Need to Cover in Oral Argument Hit the high notes
What is the main point of your issue on appeal? What facts and law support it?
Anticipate the other side’s arguments and address them
ANSWER THE QUESTION The question presented for your issue Each question asked by a Justice
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Dates to Remember
Bench Memo due : January 28 (e-mail “postmark”)
Prepare to serve as a Justice-Review other Y&G case & cited cases : 1/29-2/15(or so)
Can also begin work on Oral Argument
Receive opponent’s brief : 2/25-2/28 Finalize Oral Argument Springfield Main Event : 3/15/13
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How to reach us for help
Youth & Government web-site at
www.ilymcayg.org
click on “CONTACT US” in the upper right-hand corner choose “Judicial Help”
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How to contact us – step 1
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How to contact us – step 2
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How to contact us – step 3