MOCK TRIAL PREPARATION
(6 DAYS)
DAY
1
1. Read the trial
introduction handout as a class.
handout: 
Trial
introduction & Role Assignments
2. Teacher assigns
roles to students based on the
preferences they gave, as well
as teacher’s preferences.
3. Students are
given a role sheet, which they
will complete as they conduct
their research. Roles are for
attorneys, witnesses, judges,
and media.
handouts:
Role
Sheet: Judges |
Role
sheet: Media |
Role
Sheet: Witness |
Trial:
Self Grading Sheet
4. Students are
placed in groups based on their
roles in the trial.
A. Attorneys—Petitioner
(Korematsu)
B. Attorneys—Respondent
(U.S.A.)
C. Witnesses—Petitioner
(Korematsu)
D. Witnesses—Respondent
(U.S.A.)
E. Judges
F. Media
5. Students begin
the research process.
1. Attorneys
formulate arguments for their
side, as well as their opponents’
possible arguments.
2. Attorneys
research all of the witnesses,
but divide the research amongst
the three of them.
3. Witnesses
research their character and
create questions that the
attorneys will ask them.
4. Judges create
possible arguments for both
sides, and find evidence that
can be used in the trial,
which they will use for their
pre-trial write-up.
5. Media people
begin creating questions to
ask either attorneys or witnesses
for their pre-trial story.
6. Teacher helps
students as needed with questions
that they have.
DAYS 2 –
4
1. Students continue
their research and/or to complete
their entire role sheets.
2. Teacher helps
students as needed with questions
that they have
DAYS 5 - 6
1. Attorneys
and witnesses meet in groups
in order to prepare and practice
for the trial.
2. Judges and
media continue working on their
respective assignments.
3. Teacher helps
students as needed with questions
that they have.
