WRITING ASSIGNMENT:
Twenty percent of your course grade will be determined by a Writing Assignment based on your written report of your observation of a CRIMINAL court proceeding. Types of criminal court proceedings that may be observed include preliminary hearings, arraignments, guilty pleas, motions hearings (including motions to suppress, Brady motions, motions to sever where multiple defendants are charged, motions to change venue, motions to dismiss the criminal charges based on various grounds, and motions for a new trial),
Criminal trial calendars (containing at least guilty pleas if not trials), misdemeanor bench trials, misdemeanor jury trials, felony bench trials, felony jury trials, and criminal appellate oral arguments before appellate courts. To find a criminal court proceeding you can observe, I suggest you talk to the Clerk of the Court you wish to observe and explain the course Writing Assignment requirement. Most Clerks of Court will be accommodating as they want everyone to know about the judicial system. Observation can be of city courts, county courts, state courts, state appellate courts, federal courts, and federal appellate courts. The specific names for the courts may vary from state to state and from county to county. If for some reason you are unable to observe an actual criminal court proceeding, the Alternative Assignment is available:
Your Writing Assignment MUST include the following elements:
1. The name of the Court observed.
2. A description of the type(s) of criminal court proceeding(s) observed.
3. For each and every stage of the criminal court proceeding observed describe how it is similar to how it is described in the textbook.
4. For each and every stage of the criminal court proceeding observed describe how it is different from how it is described in the textbook.
The Writing Assignment should be at least three and no more than five typewritten pages.
A Day in the Life –Alternative Assignment – If you are unable to attend a Criminal Court Proceeding, in person you can find out if there is a Virtual Proceeding to observe by calling the Clerk of Court or Judge’s Clerk for the local counties OR, you can interview at least four (4) courtroom professionals “actors”. Be creative with your questions and approach to the interview. Find out about what their job includes, how each of the tasks is related and important to the overall criminal court process. Specifically, how are they similar, and how are they different. Relate it to the textbook and compare/contrast their personal experiences with what you have read or what preconceived ideas you may have had. All of this can be done via Email, Telephone, or Video Conference, don’t wait until the last minute.
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