Criminal Justice Arguments

Assignment 2: Weekly Assignment—Criminal Justice Arguments

Several players interact with each other in the courtroom. Of those players, we see two profiles often in popular media: criminal defense lawyers and the prosecution. Both are responsible for taking a case from its preliminary phases to trial and beyond. Both gather evidence, interview witnesses, and develop possible arguments for their cases. Both are responsible for presenting the best outcome, whether they believe in the reasoning or not. In this assignment, you will have the experience of developing an argument for a criminal case.

Activity Details

Step 1: Identify a criminal case that you feel passionately about. Find an article related to a criminal case in the Argosy University online library to use in the summary.

Complete the following tasks.

Write a one-page summary of the case. The summary should include:

• The alleged crime that occurred
• The elements of the crime
• The evidence presented in the case
• The possible defenses

Step 2: Write a one-page argument for the defendant as if you were the defense attorney on the case. In your argument:

• Address the jury by introducing yourself and the client named in the case.
• Highlight the strengths of the case by telling the jury your client’s side.
• Personalize the case by telling the jury about your client.
• Acknowledge the weaknesses that the other side will point out.
• Discuss any defenses you may use during the case.
• Request an outcome from the jury, which is normally a not-guilty verdict for the defendant.

Step 3: Write a one-page argument as if you were the prosecutor on the case. In your argument:

• Address the jury by introducing yourself and the state you represent.
• Highlight the strengths of the case by telling the jury why the defendant is guilty.
• Personalize the case by describing the aftermath of the crime, the victims, and the harm caused to society because of the crime.
• Acknowledge the weaknesses that the other side will point out.
• Request an outcome from the jury, which is normally a guilty verdict for the defendant.