Learning Objectives
- Define the adversarial system and identify how criminal attorneys use the advocacy model in a criminal trial.
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of prosecutors and summarize the similarities and differences in the responsibilities of federal- and state-level prosecutors.
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of defense attorneys and identify how defense lawyers are able to defend a person who may be guilty.
- Describe the events that lead to the charging of defendants and the role of grand juries in this process.
- Summarize the considerations used by the court to determine if bail is appropriate.
- Describe the positive and negative aspects of plea bargaining.
- Identify the procedures related to discovery, motions, and scheduling undertaken before trial.
- Explain how jurors are selected and why the role of the jury is essential to the courts.
- Summarize issues of diversity among defendants, jurors, and those sentenced for crimes.
- Evaluate the impact of technology on pretrial events.