Mock Trial for Dummies: Chapter Two

Chapter 2: Roles

            In Mock Trial there are two roles you can fulfill, an attorney or witness. It’s really up to you what role you’d like to pick. Both roles involve going in front of the court and speaking, as though you were performing on a stage. I probably should have mentioned this earlier but if you have stage fright, you’re not getting out of it in any role. Before I go in depth with the roles, I’ll explain what steps in court each role goes through.

Direct Examination:

            This step involves an attorney questioning a witness. During this, the attorney will present to the court what this witness saw and how he is involved in the case. It’s the attorney’s job to not only lead the court through the events in the case through the witness, but also to defend the witness from the opposing team’s attorney. During a direct, the attorney may also admit evidence; which will be explained in further detail later in this guide.

The opposing attorney will take this time to object to the witness’ direct examination. He will pay attention to see where the holes are in the direct. His job is to make it seem like the witness has no involvement in the case or at least make the witness seem un-credible to the court.

The witness has to seem as credible as possible and embrace his role. If his role is a doctor or a police officer, he will be as professional as possible. Sometimes the role will be a prostitute or a janitor. If the witness is Michael Jackson, you will act, and if you must, dance like Michael Jackson. Witnesses will have the most entertainment in court, acting out their role to the best of their ability with almost no repercussions.