Mock Trial: An Examination of the American Legal System

An Examination of the American Legal System: Students will explore step by step the criminal trial procedures and processes of the American legal system. They will spend their time interviewing witnesses, formulating direct and cross examination questions, writing and arguing opening statements and cross-examination questions and learn how to effectively present objections to the court in preparation for a mock trial before a trial bench of practicing attorneys and/or judges.

Facilities

Academic classrooms will be used during Sunday through Thursday both for lecture and discussion of case related materials. In addition to the classrooms, the law library will be used for case preparation. On Friday morning, the trial will occur in the trial courtroom of the law school (Law 146). This modern courtroom is set up to resemble an actual courtroom and contains both the witness and jury box, as well as counsel tables, a gallery and the bench.

Faculty

Dr. Jo Ann M. Scott is the instructor for the mock trial summer honors camp. This is her fourth year offering this camp at Ohio Northern University. Dr. Scott received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside and has been a full-time member of the faculty and Director of the Criminal Justice Program at Ohio Northern University for twenty years. Her teaching and research interests include constitutional law, criminal procedure, mock trial, the death penalty, women in the criminal justice system, serial killers and high profile criminal cases.