Objective: To analyze the legal proceedings and strategies used in high-profile cases, using the trial of former President Donald J. Trump as a case study.
Materials:
- Article on the trial’s takeaways in The New York Times
- Legal Glossary, see below
- Case study template
- For additional links see below.
Lesson Plan:
- Introduction to the Case
- Briefly discuss the background of Donald J. Trump’s trial.
- Explain the charges against him and the potential consequences.
- Legal Strategies and Interactions
- Examine the clash between Justice Merchan and Mr. Trump’s lawyer regarding the gag order.
- Discuss the concept of a gag order and its implications in a trial.
- The Role of Media in Legal Cases
- Analyze the testimony of David Pecker and the practice of “catch and kill.”
- Discuss how media can influence legal cases and public perception.
- Analyzing Testimonies
- Review Mr. Pecker’s testimony about his relationship with Mr. Trump and the editorial tactics used.
- Highlight the importance of testimonies in shaping a trial’s outcome.
- Contempt of Court
- Discuss the allegations of Mr. Trump violating the gag order and the concept of contempt of court2.
- Explore the potential impact of such violations on the trial and the accused’s rights.
Conclusion: Summarize the key points discussed and encourage students to reflect on the complexities of legal proceedings in high-profile cases.
Assessment: Students will complete a case study analysis using the provided template, focusing on the legal strategies, media influence, and courtroom dynamics observed in the trial.
This lesson plan aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in high-profile legal cases and the various factors that can affect their outcomes.
Reference: nytimes.com
- “Skeptical judge and tabloid deal: key takeaways from Trump trial day six” from The Guardian.
- “David Pecker tells hush-money trial about paying Trump doorman $30,000 to take a story ‘off the market’ – as it happened” from MSN.
- “Donald Trump fraud trial live updates: Former president tests judge’s patience – BBC News US & Canada” from BBC
- “First jurors sworn in after judge’s stern warning to Trump – BBC News US & Canada” from BBC.
Legal Glossary
- Gag Order: A court order that prohibits the parties involved in a case from making public comments or discussing specific details related to the case. It is typically issued to protect the integrity of the judicial process and prevent the dissemination of potentially prejudicial information.
- Contempt of Court: Disobeying or disrespecting the authority, orders, or rules of a court. Contempt of court can be civil (e.g., failing to comply with a court order) or criminal (e.g., obstructing justice or disrupting court proceedings).
- Testimony: A sworn statement given by a witness in a legal proceeding, such as a trial or deposition. Testimonies are crucial evidence in many cases and can significantly impact the outcome.
- Witness: A person who has knowledge or information relevant to a legal case and is called upon to testify under oath.
- Credibility: The quality of being believable or trustworthy. In a legal context, credibility refers to the reliability and trustworthiness of a witness’s testimony or evidence.
- Burden of Proof: The duty of a party in a legal case to prove the validity of their claims or allegations. The burden of proof can be “beyond a reasonable doubt” (in criminal cases) or “preponderance of evidence” (in civil cases).
- Prosecution: The party (typically the government) responsible for initiating and pursuing legal action against an accused person or entity in a criminal case.
- Defense: The party (typically the accused or their legal team) responsible for refuting the prosecution’s allegations and presenting arguments or evidence in favor of the accused.
- Jury: A group of citizens selected and sworn to render a verdict in a legal case based on the evidence presented during the trial.
- Mistrial: A trial that has been terminated and rendered invalid due to circumstances that compromise the fairness of the proceedings, such as juror misconduct or improper admission of evidence.
Case Study Analysis: The Trial of Donald J. Trump
I. Background Information
- Brief overview of the case (charges, key parties involved, etc.)
- Significance and public interest surrounding the trial
II. Legal Strategies
- Prosecution’s legal strategy and tactics
- Defense’s legal strategy and tactics
- Analysis of the effectiveness and potential implications of each strategy
III. Courtroom Dynamics
- Interactions between the judge, prosecutors, and defense attorneys
- Incidents or clashes (e.g., gag order violations, contempt of court allegations)
- Impact of courtroom dynamics on the proceedings and potential outcomes
IV. Role of Media and Public Perception
- Media coverage and reporting on the trial
- Tactics used by media organizations (e.g., “catch and kill”)
- Influence of media coverage on public perception and potential jury pool
- Ethical implications of media tactics
V. Witness Testimonies
- Key witness testimonies (e.g., David Pecker)
- Evaluation of witness credibility and reliability
- Importance of witness testimonies in shaping the trial’s narrative and outcome
VI. Potential Outcomes and Implications
- Discuss the range of potential outcomes (guilty, not guilty, mistrial, etc.)
- Analyze the legal and societal implications of each potential outcome
VII. Conclusion
- Summary of the case study analysis
- Lessons learned or insights gained from analyzing this high-profile trial
- Recommendations for improvements in legal proceedings or media coverage of similar cases