Transcript Mock Trial Camp 2010 Legal Analysis and Theme Development

Mock Trial Camp 2010
Legal Analysis
and
Theme Development
Mark V. Griffin
Assistant Hennepin County Attorney
Picture a white bear.
What is the job of a trial lawyer?
The job of a trial lawyer
• Is to make sure the jury sees the bear you
want them to see.
Legal Analysis
• Whom do you represent?
• What outcome do you want?
• What evidence do you have?
• Every story can be reduced to one
sentence.
• That sentence is your theory of the case.
Representing the Bears
What outcome do you want?
Representing the Bears
What outcome do you want?
Goldilocks to pay for the damage
she did.
Representing the Bears
What evidence do you have?
Representing the Bears
What evidence do you have?
What the Bears saw.
Representing the Bears
What is this case about in one
sentence?
Representing the Bears
This case is about three innocent
bears whose sense of security
was permanently destroyed when
Goldilocks burglarized their home.
Representing Goldilocks
What outcome do you want?
Representing Goldilocks
What outcome do you want?
Goldilocks does not have to pay.
Representing Goldilocks
What evidence do you have?
Representing Goldilocks
What evidence do you have?
Goldilocks.
Representing Goldilocks
What is this case is about in one
sentence?
Representing Goldilocks
This case is about a terrified little
girl who was lost, hungry, and
tired.
Darth v. Leia
Representing Darth Vader
What outcome do you want?
Representing Darth Vader
What outcome do you want?
To send Princess Lightfingers to
jail for stealing.
Representing Darth Vader
What evidence do you have?
The stolen plans for the Death
Star were in her possession.
Representing Darth Vader
What is this case is about in one
sentence?
Representing Darth Vader
This case is about a traitor who
endangered the public safety
when she stole top secret
information.
Representing Princess Leia
What outcome do you want?
Representing Princess Leia
What outcome do you want?
To keep her out of Galactic Prison.
Representing Princess Leia
What evidence do you have?
Representing Princess Leia
She put the plans into a droid and
shot it out of the ship.
Representing Princess Leia
What is this case about in one
sentence?
Representing Princess Leia
This case is about a young
woman who just wanted to spend
some quality time with her Dad.
The job of a trial lawyer
• Is to make sure the jury sees the case that
you want them to see.
Legal Analysis and Theme
• Whom do you represent?
• What outcome do you want?
• What evidence do you have?
• Every story can be reduced to one
sentence.
• That sentence is your theory of the case.