Did Rick O'Ruben rob Magruder's
convenience store on Jan. 10?
That was the question
before the court Tuesday, Nov. 27 as second-year Elon law
students assumed the roles of prosecutors and defense counsel
in their Evidence course final trials. A total of 13 trials
were held throughout the day at the H. Michael Weaver
building, home of Elon University School of Law. Local
attorneys, judges, faculty members and friends of the law
school served as judges, and students from Northeast Guilford
Middle School and New Garden Friends School served as
jurors. Each prosecution and defense team was responsible for
bringing two people to serve as witnesses in the fictitious
case.
Professor Steve Friedland said the goal
of the exercise is to help students review what they've
learned in the Evidence course and promote ease in the
courtroom. Students had the opportunity to make objections,
react to the judge's ruling and think quickly on their
feet before moving on to the next part of the case. The
exercise also provided the opportunity for students to work
together in teams in preparation for the trial, and each team
was expected to outline its preliminary matters, opening and
closing statements, witness examinations and anticipated
evidentiary objections and responses.
The four-hour Evidence class is a
required course during the fall semester for second-year
students at Elon Law, along with Constitutional Law
I and Business Associations.
