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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 30, 1985)
Moot trial provides real-life experience I Lawyers, victims and witnesses join together in courtroom drama Tension hung heavy ir. the courtroom as Counsel for the Prosecution Brendon Alexander wearily eyed the witness across the room. Something about her looked shady. This had been one of the longest trials of the week. Five at torneys represented three clients in the Fordyce vs. Harris and Kelson assault trial, and there had been problems finding consensus on points of procedure on evidence submitted. All five had approached the bench often to confer with Judge Pamela Schultz. The defendants were edgy and the jurors just wanted to get it over with. Melissa Angel, cocktail waitress at Gus’ Bar and Grill had worked the night Fordyce had been beaten up. Her eyewitness testimony was crucial. “So, how long have you been working at Gus’, and Alexander paused to examine the witness' rather heavy moustache and hefty build. "How long have you been tak ing steroids?" The entire courtroom erupted in laughter. The judge threw up her hands in mock disgust and ordered the ques tion striken from the record. Then she giggled with the rest of the University law students, happy to find a light moment at the end of a long summer semester. AH the participants in the University School of l.aw’s moot courtroom were acting out the final chapter in a class designed to give law students a feel for a real courtroom. "Trial Practice” not only involved third year law students but also their families and friends who agreed to act as witnesses and jurors, One of those volunteer actors. Rod Sanderson from Junction City, was assisting Greg Perkins, a law student from Salem. Perkins was having a hard time getting volunteers to come to Eugene, so the actor played two different parts — one male and one female. In many ways the courtroom can be compared to theater, says law Professor Wayne Westllng. who teaches the class along with Lauren Holland, a Eugene attorney. "You are presenting a story to an audience, but you are bound by the facts, bound by whai happened." Westjing says. “You can't create like playwrights, but you can use theatrical techniques.” Throughout the term the students have worked on dif ferent parts of courtroom drama. First, the case and ac cumulated evidence were presented to them. These are stock cases based on real trials, but edited for educational pur poses by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. From these the students had to determine what facts would lay the most convincing founda tion on which to build their presentations. The courtroom procedure was taken apart piece by piece for examination. For example, the students discussed how to question friendly versus unfriendly witnesses, they practiced giving opening and closing arguments to a fictitious jury, and last week they put it all together in one big piece. The experience the class gains is becoming more crucial. West ling says. "The pattern of lawyers has changed." West ling says. "You can't always get a preliminary job with an experienced lawyer." Increasing numbers of schools are training students to he a complete lawyer when they graduate, he says. "You need to be able to do it when you walk out that door." The class is not required, hut it is "the best thing in law school." says Claren Tracey, an assisiant district attorney in Eugene. "Students ant fools if they don’t take advantageofrft." Tracey volunteered as a witness in the cocaine con spiracy trial. She played the part of Laura Dobson, a role she has played four other times. When she was a law student she also tried this case. .‘Tve done this on the other side." she says. "This is one of my favorite roles ” Another local professional says he enjoyed playing a judge Andrew Bates, an attorney for the Eugene public defenders of flee presided over the cocaine trial. He says he gained insights into how to interact with a judge, and how a judge behaves. “Decisions have to be made quickly,” Hates says. “There’s not a lot of time for thought reflection.” Getting perspectives on the “other side" is an unexpected benefit for all involved parties, says third year law student Klise Falaang, who has been doing trial work at the Benton County District Attorney's Office in Corvallis. Kulsang played police officer Penny Logan in the assault case “It's good to get up there and know what It's like to Ire ques tioned,” she says. During final evaluation after all cases have been presented, the students receive a written critique and view an entire videotape of their performance. Westling says. This information is valuable even for those who don't plan to life trial lawyers, he adds. hike other students involved in the class, law student Kristin Margolf put in ;i0-!o 40 hours of work as a prosecuting attorney in the cocaine case. But even .. after the verdict was in, she says ; she was still nervous. ”1 still have a horrible knot in my stomach, and I feel real awkward.” Margolf says after', the .trial, adding that she wouldn't want to do it again Story by Unda Hahn Photos by Karen Staliwood if Clockwise from the top: Plaintiff Ken Atel sits in the witness stand and prepares to answer a questions while fudge. Pamela Schultz keeps close watch on the action: Prosecuting Attorney Btendon Alexander stands up and vehemently argues his client's case; Prosecuting Attorney Rick Diaz ap proaches the imnch to consult with fudge Schultz: prosecu tion witness Brenda Sanders gives testimony after question ing during the lengthy trial; and defense attorney Karl Per rier reviews his notes and prepares questions during his .client's trial. I <£' « ^nHf Foodscrvice Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day 7-10:30 Mon-Fri Fountain Court Cafe Cereals, Fresh Fruits, Melons, Bagels. Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Ham ’n' Eggs. 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