Running a Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial

Classroom Notes

Age Range: KS3 or KS4

Timing: This lesson(s) will last a minimum of two hours. It can easily be extended if necessary by allowing more time during each individual stage of the lesson. It is especially helpful to allow for more time during the mock trial.

Curriculum references:

Citizenship main aims: Develop a soundknowledge and understanding of the role of law and the justice system in our society and how laws are shaped and enforced.

Citizenship KS4: The legal system in the UK, different sources of law and how the law helps society deal with complex problems.

Citizenship KS3: The precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom. The nature of rules and laws and the justice system, including the role of the police and the operation of courts and tribunals.

Related lessons plans:

■ Who’s to Blame? ■ Sentencing Myths ■ Sentencing Guidelines

Context This lesson will help students to identify the different roles within the magistrates’ court and provide them with information about what those roles entail. The session culminates with a mock trial, in which individual students take on various roles for both the prosecution and defence.

Cross Curricular Links:

SMSC: Ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and to readily apply this understanding in their own lives, recognise legal boundaries and, in doing so,respect the civil and criminal law of England.

Language and Literacy: This lesson supportsaims relating to spoken language, reading andwriting and vocabulary development.

English: Speak confidently and effectively including through using standard English confidently in a range of formal and informal contexts, including class discussion.

Worksheets and Resources:

Worksheet 1 - Role/Definition Cards

Worksheet 2 - Room Setup

Worksheets 3-14 - Role Guides

Worksheet 15 - Case (R v Tweeter)

Worksheet 16 - Case - Legal Adviser

Worksheet 17 - Order of Procedure

Worksheet 18 - Reflection Activity

Glossary

PowerPoint Presentation

© Young Citizens is an initiative of the Citizenship Foundation • Charity Reg. No. 801360 1

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the session students will:

■ be more aware about the roles of the different professionals within the magistrates’ court.

■ have gained an insight into the court procedure adopted throughout a criminal trial.

■ have taken part in a mock trial, preparing for and taking on a specific role.

Running a Mock TrialClassroom Notes

Introduction (5 - 10 mins)

Explain to students that during this lesson(s) they will be exploring the roles and responsibilities that are taken on by the different professionals involved in a magistrates’ court.

Tell students that they will be introduced to a real life criminal case. Each student will be allocated a role and asked to prepare to take part in a mock trial.

Ask students to share any knowledge they currently have of magistrates’ courts and the roles of the people who are involved in a criminal trial. Record any of their ideas as these will be referred to at the end of the lesson.

© Young Citizens is an initiative of the Citizenship Foundation • Charity Reg. No. 801360 2

Additional information:Setting up the room: Please refer to the ‘room setup’ document in your worksheet pack (worksheet 2) which gives details of how the room should be set up for the mock trial element of the lesson.

Number of students: This lesson is designed for 22 students. This can be increased easily by allowing 3 or 4 students to act as prosecution/defence lawyers, instead of 1 or 2 and having additional court reporters and court artisits. Equally you can take that number down to 20 (or fewer) by not including court reporters/court artists and eliminating the need for observer judges.

Prior to the lesson you will need to think about how to allocate students to the various roles.

The following roles will need allocating (descriptions overleaf):

■ Magistrates x6 (+1 lead magistrate)■ Prosecution lawyer x2■ Defence lawyer x2■ Legal adviser■ Usher x1■ Defendant x1 (Defence witness 1) ■ Witnesses (Prosecution witness 1, Prosecution witness 2, Defence witness 2)■ Observer judges x3 (optional)■ Court reporter (optional)■ Court artist (optional)

The lead magistrate role should be taken on by a teacher.

Running a Mock TrialClassroom Notes