BPL Mock Trial Program Case Presentation Scheduled for March 22 at Jefferson County Courthouse

Students participating in the spring 2018 Mock Trial Program take notes to prepare for the
upcoming March 22 mock trial at the Jefferson County Courthouse

Since January 25, nearly 20 teens who love to argue or geek out on justice have gathered at the Central Library, receiving tips from professional lawyers on how to present a legal case.

The students, participants in the Birmingham Public Library's 2018 Mock Trial Program, have learned how to conduct interviews on the witness stand, both their own and opposing witnesses. They have practiced closing arguments pivotal for winning a case. From 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, the teens will put the skills learned since the program began in late January to the test as they do a practice run.

The students, including some who plan to pursue legal careers after graduating, will conduct their mock trial in a courtroom inside the Jefferson County Courthouse across the street from the Central Library from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, 2018. At the conclusion of the mock trial, a jury will deliberate and return with a verdict.

Student 2017 Mock Trial Program participants with Lance Simpson (left) and Federal
Public Defender Glennon Threatt (2nd from left) on the day of the mock trial

The Mock Trial Program is a partnership between the Birmingham Public Library, the Northern District of Alabama’s U.S. Public Defender’s Office, and the Birmingham Bar Foundation.

Coordinated by BPL’s Lance Simpson, the program is designed to introduce students from grades 6 to 12 in metro Birmingham to the critical thinking and advocacy skills utilized in courtroom trials. During preparation each week, students learned to play the roles of a judge, defense lawyers, prosecutors, and witnesses.

Read more about the Mock Trial Program on the BPL blog. See photos from previous Mock Trial Programs at BPL Flickr.

For more information about the BPL Mock Trial Program, contact Simpson at 205-226-3671 or email him at lmsimpson@bham.lib.al.us.