Meeting+Minutes

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=Notes from our weekly meetings =

First Meeting - Wednesday October 13th, 2010

//__Attendance (17)__// //Reginah// //Sheila// //Nick// //Noelle// //Deanna// //Kyra// //Kavine// //Pillar// //Baydan// //Christina// //Olivia// //Fernando// //Jeff// //Dayana// //Tamisha// //Tenzin// //Joshua//

__**Agenda**__

 * == Topic == || == Notes == ||
 * Welcome new and returning members ||  ||
 * Set up weekly meeting times || Agreed on Wednesdays at 2:30 - more meetings per week to be added later ||
 * Overview of Mock Trial - what we do and FAQs || No cell phones, be respectful, come prepared to work and to have homework ||
 * Website || Sign up for a wikispaces account, join this wiki page ||
 * Assignments for next week || Bring a binder for Mock Trial, join this wiki, post a question/comment ||

===For the next two weeks, we will discuss and learn about the //Rules of Evidence//. Review these in the [|Mock Trial Case 2010.pdf] from last year===

Please pass along this information to our team members who were not able to make today's meeting.

Meeting Wednesday October 20, 2010
__//Attendance (20)//__ //Olivia// //Pillar// //Fernando// //Kazine// //Christina// //Dayana// //Tamisha// //Joshua// //Phedorah// //Tenzin// //Baydan// //Kyra// //Noelle// //Nick// //Jeff// //Maggie// //Deanna// //Samuel// //Reginah// //Brithney (at the end)//

**AGENDA**
marking up the text, pair-share || Great discussion and questions about the differences between criminal and civil case and other key questions ||
 * == Topic == || == Notes == ||
 * General overview of a criminal case
 * General definition and analysis of the rules of evidence || Standard objection: irrelevant, leading questions, hearsay, lack of personal knowledge, opinion (expert), speculation

Notes and marking up packet from the American Bar Association website || from Attorney Happel || Relevance, competency, foundation, hearsay (with some exceptions)
 * More detailed analysis of the rules of evidence

Notes from Prof. Michael L. Coyne, Mass School of Law ||


 * //Next week we will review the rules of our Mock Trial program and analyze some rules of evidence from the case from last year. Bring your binders and enthusiasm - one week until we receive this year's case!//**

__**Meeting Wednesday October 27th, 2010**__
__**//Attendance//**__ Christina Maggie Kyra Joshua Fernando Jeff Reginah Tenzin Tamisha Sheila Olivia Baydan Phedorah

Students worked in more detail on the rules of evidence. They examined 8 examples of quotes used by different participants in a case and explained if they were admissible or not and why.
 * __Agenda__**

The discussion was done through EtherPad.

You can see the entire conversation HERE

= __//** Monday November 1st **//__ =

Mr. Tivnan and Ms. Pember attend a meeting at the Mass Bar Association in Boston to pick up the case. Soon, all will be revealed!

=**__Wednesday November 3rd, 2010__**=

//Attendance// Olivia Noelle Kerri Deanna Christina kyra Phedorah Fernando Karine Pillar Brithney Dayana Tamisha Josh Jeff Reginah Tenzin Baydan Nick

Distributed the case packets, enjoyed some pizza and candy, and assigned homework of reading through the packet by next week.

=__**Wednesday November 10th**__=

Olivia Pagliccia Sheila Rachels Brittney Joseph Kyra Savlidis Noelle Pierce Tamisha Claude Christina Paul Tenzin Kunsong Baydan Mohammed Josh Jerome Phedora Rosiclair Reginah Sanyu
 * __Sign-in:__**

--when reading the case make sure not to have a bias also use critical thinking and infer --Josh brought up a great point reminding us that the defense is not PROVING the defendant is innocent but rather disproving prosecutors argument --there is no burden of proof for defense --witness can not contradict what is said in their affidavit --in the affidavits each witness has an idea o what happening but it's the lawyers job to expose who's telling the least truth and the most --many points in the affidavits there are moments of hearsay therefore when the attorneys ask the witness questions WORD PLAY is extremely important in order to have it admissible --there was an idea that if a witness was feeling pressured by the attorney crossing them, then we could set up signals to object --lawyers must politely keep control over witnesses --witness only answer questions being asked do not elaborate unless asked to --lawyers and witnesses must stay processional even if opposing attorneys give attitude --organization is key; portfolios again this year --Opening Argument: sum up our argument and hit the key points we will bring up DO NOT GENERALIZE --closing statement:sum up everything that has happened through out the face. Unlike the opening this is not completely prepared and is also much more emotional --Entering items into evidence must practice --can only object to your witness --stipulations to the judge --scavenger hunt list legal? or illegal? --the defendant was not the only one with the pick up truck --also the tools in the pick up truck are circumstantial --Previous offenses are not admissible i.e. defendants punishment for taking teacher's lap top --credibility of witnesses must be either disproved or proved through questioning i.e. Prosecutors could argue that Sasha is an organized responsible person as seen through the planning and execution of the scavenger hunt and therefore her memory of that night is more truthful --The detective seemed to lead the witnesses into saying what he wanted them to say; he has a bias
 * Topics, Questions, and Ideas Brought Up

If anyone would has any questions or comments please post them.

Also we said that our homework for this week is to focus on and highlight the points in each affidavit where a certain time the night of the crime happened. This is to establish the timeline o the night which will be crucial when proving or disproving the defendants alibi and the credibility of the witnesses

=**__Wednesday November 17__**= __Attendance__ Sheila jeff Noelle Tamisha brithney Deanna Reginah kyra Phedorah

Take the quiz! How well do you know the case and the case packet?

=__**Wednesday December 1**__= //Attendance// Sheila Kyra Deanna Noelle Olivia Reginah Tenzin Brithney Fernando Karine Pillar Christina Jeff

Worked on outing the facts of the case and determining key facts for both the prosecution and the defense sides. Posted responses on the wiki

=__**Wednesday December 8, 2010**__= Attendance Sheila Deanna Christina Karine Pillar Tamisha Tenzin Baydan Josh Reginah Kyra Olivia Jeff Nick Brithney Phedorah Kerri

Assigned roles and worked in by teams on outlining the case or affidavit.

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=__**Friday December 10th**__= //Attendance// Josh Jeff Olivia Sheila Kerri Fernando Kyra Deanna Reginah Noelle Dayana Tamisha Karine Pillar Tenzin Phedorah Baydan Christina

Worked in teams, outlined affidavits and bracketed evidence for each side

=**__Wednesday December 15th__**= Deanna Karine Fernando Brithney Tenzin Josh Baydan Nick Kyra Sheila Jeff Kerri

Most of our witnesses practiced being examined and cross examined by attorneys on both teams. Heated discussions ensued between the prosecution and the defense on various points in the case

=__**Friday December 17th**__=

=__**Wednesday December 22nd**__=

Very short meeting before vacation, worked on incorporating some of the legal aspects of the case into arguments - work on this on your own over vacation

= = =__**Wednesday January 5th 2011**__=

=Friday Janurary 7th, 2011= =__Attendence__= Deanna Kyra Reginah Noelle Josh Sheila Oliva Jeff Kerri Pillar Karine Christina Dayana Tenzin Baydan Tamisha Brithney Fernando

The best attendance we have had all year! Students worked in groups of three: witness, direct attorney and cross attorney, to prepare their arguments. Then as a large group we had most of the witnesses there sit in front of the class and practiced direct and cross questions as well as objections and the rules of evidence. Also mentioned some of the legal aspects to focus on in the case.

We also met Mr. Tivnan's student teacher, Mr. A, who was on a champion mock trial team for four years while he was in high school. He offered many great suggestions and pointers for the team.

=Wednesday January 12th - cancelled due to snow day=

=Friday January 14th= __Attendence__ (students were left early and came late) Kyra Deanna Christina Fernando Olivia Brithney Phedorah Reginah Tamisha Dayana

Mr.A acted as a few witnesses in order for the attorneys to practice direct and cross questions. The entire group practiced questions, performances, and objections. =

Wednesday January 19th=