Students in the criminal trial advocacy sections at the Washington College of Law will hold a mock murder trial in front of current and retired judges Nov. 18 at the Montgomery County Judicial Center, according to a WCL press release.
The mock trial is the final exam for the law students in these sections because "they simulate the preparation of a real criminal trial," Liz Boals, assistant director of the WCL trial advocacy program, said in an e-mail.
The law students will "develop a case theory, create demonstratives and prepare witnesses for trial," Boals said. "The final trials before current and retired judges provide a realistic trial environment."
High school students from Rockville and Col. Zadok Margurder high schools will act as jurors in the trials.
"The participation of high school students as jurors adds a further dimension to [the law students'] preparation and delivery," Boals said.
The mock trail greatly helps the students, she said.
"They are successful exercises on various levels," Boals said. "Students are exposed to real judges and courtroom procedures. Many alumni from the WCL Trial Advocacy Program have written to us on the usefulness of our simulated trial exercises and how instructional they were for them"
