UNT Dallas students conduct mock trials in non-mock courtroom

by PegNews wire

courtesy UNT Dallas

Dallas County Judge Elizabeth Crowder and University of North Texas Dallas Campus Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Gretchen Choe listen as students participate in mock trials as part of the final exam for their class. Student Elaine Hamilton of Desoto grills witness Stevelynne Brown of Lancaster.

Thanks to Dallas County Judge Elizabeth Crowder, the mock trials conducted by University of North Texas at Dallas students in Gretchen Choe's criminal Procedures class had an air of unaccustomed verisimilitude associated with them.

That's because they were conducted in Judge Crowder's courtroom in the Frank Crowley Courts Building in downtown Dallas.

On Thursday, May 7, thirty students played the roles of prosecutor, defense attorney, witnesses and jurors as the courtroom drama played itself out. Several local attorneys assisted the students in making preparations for the trials, while three other attorneys chipped in $50 apiece so the participating students could park gratis in the Courts Building garage.

Three mock trials were held on May 7, and four more are scheduled to be enacted from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12; the public is invited to attend.

posted by JM