Mock Trial Case Files and Problems

The mock trial case files and problems in this text are designed to provide opportunities for students to put into practice the theory of courtroom litigation. Each of the first seven chapters presents a series of practical exercises focusing on one of the basic litigation techniques, for example, direct examination of a witness.

The criminal case files require only two witnesses per side. The civil cases involve three witnesses for the plaintiff and two for the defense. Each case file is designed to be tried in approximately three hours.

Many of the practical exercises are taken from the case files in Chapters 8 through 21. Thus, working on parts of the case files for some of the weekly exercises will expose the students to the information in a way that approximates real trials - understanding that no one piece of evidence or testimony can be taken in isolation. Other problems in this text are "free-standing" to the extent that they do not relate to any particular case or fact pattern in this book.