Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions Activity

Roles and Resources: New Jersey v. T.L.O.

This activity includes a tailored description and detailed guidance for each role:

• Facilitator: The facilitator manages the courtroom program and gives everyone an opportunity to speak during the jury deliberations.
• Judge: The host judge presides over the simulation and converses with the students in the courtroom after the event.
• Volunteer Attorney Coaches
  • These coaches prepare the student attorneys for the oral arguments.
  • These coaches prepare the student jurors for the centerpiece of the program – jury deliberations during which they use civil discourse skills to analyze the issues.
• Students
  • Attorneys: These students present arguments before the judge.
  • Jurors: These students deliberate and work toward an evidence-based decision.

Roles and Resources: Elonis v. U.S.

This activity includes a tailored description and detailed guidance for each role:

• Facilitator: The facilitator manages the courtroom program and gives everyone an opportunity to speak during the jury deliberations.
• Judge: The host judge presides over the simulation and converses with the students in the courtroom after the event.
• Volunteer Attorney Coaches
  • These coaches prepare the student attorneys for the oral arguments.
  • These coaches prepare the student jurors for the centerpiece of the program – jury deliberations during which they use civil discourse skills to analyze the issues.
• Students
  • Attorneys: These students present arguments before the judge.
  • Jurors: These students deliberate and work toward an evidence-based decision.