The Sentencing Activity

Mock trials are a great way to teach youngsters about law and the legal system. Whether you plan to conduct mock trials in your classroom or are considering taking on the role of team coach, the information in this packet proves invaluable.

Why is it so important to have a trial by jury in the American judicial system? This right is one of the hallmarks of American democracy, but it also comes with the responsibility of serving on a jury if called. Young legal scholars...

Was justice served for Bobby Franks? An informative article about the 1924 trial of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold includes an overview of the murder of Bobby Franks, the defense’s legal strategy, and excerpts of closing arguments from...

You wouldn't give someone a 10-day timeout for eating a piece of candy. The US government, too, does not believe in unreasonable punishment. A variety of exercises exploring the clauses of the US Constitution prompts class members to...

Should the United States ban the death penalty? Scholars use real-life examples of criminal activity to come to their own conclusions on the death penalty. Primary source documents, as well as video clips, open the issue of capital...

Fewer than 4% of United States criminal cases are decided by juries. A short video points to the increase in arbitration, plea bargaining, and summary judgements to explain the decline to explain the decline in jury trials.

Designed as a check on the judicial branch of the United State government, the president has the power to nominate judges to the federal bench. Four film clips serve as a bell ringer to introduce a study into the nominating process and...

A courtroom can be a scary place for the uninitiated. Get familiar with the process using a helpful overview of the activities that take place prior to both civil and criminal cases.  The lesson explains the differences between civil and...

High schoolers consider the implication of war crimes. In this Bosnian War lesson, students watch video clips and read about the trial of Dražen Erdemovic, a Bosnian Croat accused of shooting civilians. High schoolers discuss the trial...

Were the Nuremberg Trials vengeance or justice? After World War II, the trials of Nazi officials were supposed to bring justice for genocidal atrocities. However, scholars debate whether it was just an act of retribution by the victors....