CJ 270 Fundamentals of Criminal Trial Practice
The course is designed to introduce students to the adversarial trial practice by exposing them to the various facets of the process, culminating in mock trial presentations. Students will be exposed to fundamental processes of trial packet. The packet will consist of a hypothetical case, including witness statements, police reports, medical records, as well as other documentation and possible photographs. Students will be taught how to effectively execute each phase of the trial process, i.e., Opening Statements, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, etc. Students will also be exposed to the Rules of Evidence, Criminal Procedure and Criminal Law as relevant to the hypothetical case file. Students will be required to draft and argue pre-trial motions regarding the exclusion of evidence, both tangible and testimonial.