HLS Holds Simulated Trials Advocacy

The three-week Trial Advocacy Workshop (TAW), which was conducted at Harvard Law School this semester, culminated in simulated trials last week with high school and undergraduate students serving as jurors.

The workshop, which was organized by the Criminal Justice Institute, was aimed at helping Law School students improve their ability to analyze a trial and to present effectively before a jury.

The Law School students, who spent the first two weeks preparing for the case, served as attorneys and witnesses during the third week of the workshop and received critiques from experienced trial lawyers and judges. Student performances were also video-taped and individually critiqued.

During the case, jurors heard a simulated criminal trial in which they were asked to determine whether or not the deaths of a man and a woman were a double-suicide or double-homicide committed by a jilted lover. After an hour-long deliberation, jurors acquitted the defendant.

Jay D. Blitzman, First Justice of the Middlesex Juvenile Court, served as presiding judge. Blitzman praised the performance of the Harvard Law School students at the conclusion of the trial.

He emphasized the effectiveness of closing arguments, which interwove the underlying themes of jealousy, infatuation, and revenge in the case.

“I’m very excited by what I saw,” he said.

“I wanted to see how good you all are. Now I wish that I could take you all to court on Monday,” Blitzman added.

The volunteer jurors, ranging from Harvard undergraduates to local high school students, also offered opinions on individual aspects of the Harvard Law School students’ performances. Jurors commented on the logic presented to the jury and the strength of opening and closing arguments.

“The proceedings were quite good,” said Christian E. Chauvet ’12 after the conclusion of the trials.

“I thought the defense was very persuasive and the statements were very well-prepared,” Chauvet added.

The jury was partially composed of members from the Harvard Mock Trial team and mock trial teams in the local community. According to Chauvet, it provided valuable exposure to other means of approaching simulated jury trials.

All undergraduates interested in serving as jurors are encouraged to volunteer, according to Anna Pierce, who is the  administrative coordinator of the Criminal Justice Institute.

The TAW will be held again during the winter term.