Tuesday 6/9 [Distance Learning]
*Note: this will be our last class and lesson of the year
No Zoom Classroom
Projects Due by End of Class
HW- have a wise and wonderful life!
Thursday 6/4 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Work on Project
HW- project due next Wednesday
Tuesday 6/2 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Work on Project
HW- project due on your last day
Thursday 5/28 [Distance Learning]
Culminating Mind Map (submit to dropbox; can do on paper or something like Piktochart)
Work on Project
HW- final project due on your last day
Tuesday 5/26 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (password and link in email)
Watch A Civil Action, Opening Scene (3 min; first minute or so is grainy)
Watch What is a Contract? (3 min)
Watch What is an Offer? (2 min)
Watch What is Consideration? (3 min)
Complete Contracts Practice Handout (don't have to turn in)
Work on Final Project
HW- final project due on your last day
Thursday 5/21 [Distance Learning]
Read Nolo Proving Fault Traffic Accidents
Complete Tort Hypotheticals (don’t need to turn in)
Begin Final Project
HW- final project due on your last day
Tuesday 5/19 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Read Nolo Defamation
Watch Jussie Smollett Defamation (1 min)
Watch Twitter Libel Courtney Love (3 min)
Watch Bad Yelp Review Defamation (2 min)
Watch Virginia Woman Sued Over Yelp Review (3 min)
Watch Rolling Stone Defamation (4 min)
Watch Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 min)
HW- none
Thursday 5/14 [Distance Learning]
*Optional Read: Inside Georgia’s Citizen’s Arrest Law (timely and interesting)
Read Cornell Torts
Read Four Elements of Negligence
Watch Hot Coffee Trailer (3 min)
Watch McDonald’s Hot Coffee (12 min)
HW- none
Tuesday 5/12 [Distance Learning]
New and Last Unit: Civil Law
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Check Out Marin Small Claims Court Website
Watch Some People's Court if the Spirit Moves You
HW- none
Thursday 5/7 [Distance Learning]
Watch Mass Incarceration in U.S. (4 min)
Check Out Marin County Public Booking Log
Listen to Ear Hustle Podcast Intro (4 min; listen to more episodes if you want!)
Watch Q Ball on Netflix (if you can’t, just watch the trailer, or try to find it somewhere else) or you can watch Behind Bars: Rookie Year (43 min)
HW- none
Tuesday 5/5 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Cop Talk with Detective Nick Neisius of MVPD (Zoom link and password in email)
Think of a few questions you'd like to ask him
HW- none
Thursday 4/30 [Distance Learning]
Watch 12 Angry Men Trailer (2 min)
Read Jury Deliberations (imagine what it would be like to be on a jury)
Response: If you were the judge, would you find Jamie Hayes guilty? Why? Cite evidence in your response (submit to assignment dropbox on this website)
HW- none
Tuesday 4/28 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Watch Gideon’s Army Trailer (2 min)
Work on:
Option #1 Pick one witness and write either a direct or cross examination for them
Option #2 Write an opening or closing statement for the prosecution or defense
*Submit to dropbox on this website (don't submit to Google Classroom)
HW- be prepared to do some trial simulation stuff next class
Thursday 4/23 [Distance Learning]
Option #1 Pick one witness and write either a direct or cross examination for them
Option #2 Write an opening or closing statement for the prosecution or defense
*See People v. Hayes p.50-54, which you should have already read, for precisely how to do a direct, cross, opening, and closing
HW- this is due by end of class next Tues
Tuesday 4/21 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom first 20 min at least (link and password in the email I sent you)
Note: today we’d begin watching My Cousin Vinny, so instead watch the trailer (I encourage you to watch the whole movie if you can find it; it's an entertaining way of learning how the trial process works--and doesn't)
Read People v. Hayes p.12-22
Read People v. Hayes p.23-44
HW- none
Thursday 4/16 [Distance Learning]
Watch Tam Mock Trial (3 min)
Watch PA Mock Trail State Competition (10 min)
Read People v. Hayes p.45-54 (this is like an overview of how mock trial works)
Read People v. Hayes p.55-63 (this is how attorneys make objections; it can be difficult; I will clarify next week!)
Note: Remember that we would be doing this case as a project in class, but instead you're reading it
HW- none
Tuesday 4/14 [Distance Learning]
Note: ordinarily we’d be starting our mock trial, but we can’t do that so we’ll have to adapt
Zoom Classroom first 20 min at least (link and password in the email I sent you)
Check out Marin Felony Bail Schedule and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule
Watch Frontline: The Plea (just first 6 min; but feel free to watch more if you want!)
Read pages 5-10 of People v. Hayes (this is attached in the email I sent to you as well)
Note: People v. Hayes is the mock trial case we would have been performing in class
HW- none
Spring Break
Thursday 4/2 [Distance Learning]
Note: today would have been our jail/courthouse field trip
Watch Marin Civic Center Court Shootout (4 min)
Read this if you want more info about the infamous shootout (optional)
Watch Civic Center Overview if you want to see what it looks like inside (7 min; optional)
Take a quick tour of the Marin Superior Court website (there’s actually some pretty useful stuff on here)
Watch Beyond Scared Straight (5 min)
Watch Jail vs. Prison (6 min)
Discuss this stuff with family; or digitally with friends; or journal about it
HW- have a great break! (I know it’s not a normal spring break, but try to enjoy it)
Tuesday 3/31 [Distance Learning]
Read Nolo Arrest
Read Nolo Arrest vs. Detention
Read Nolo Miranda Rights
Listen NPR: Coerced Confession (13 min)
Watch Brendan Dassey Making a Murderer Confession Breakdown (8 min)
Watch 60 Min: False Confessions (13 min)
Talk with someone about the above or just think about it
HW- none
Monday 3/30 [Distance Learning]
*Today in addition to watching the below clips we would have had a cool in-class activity in which two students from another class run in and steal my baseball bat, then run out, and you have to create a composite description of them as eyewitnesses
Watch 60 Min: Eyewitness, Part I (13 min)
Watch 60 Min: Eyewitness, Part II (13 min)
Watch Guerilla Counting Basketballs (1 min)
Think about the reliability of eyewitnesses, the potential problems with memory, and how much weight should be given to eyewitness testimony in court
HW- none
Thursday 3/26 [Distance Learning]
#1 Today would have been an awesome simulation where I stage the murder of Mr. Bernstein then have you in groups try to solve the crime, pretending you’re a detective. So today I’d like you to simply think about a crime and how you’d solve it. Just do this mentally. Think up a crime, then think about as a detective how you’d solve that crime. You don’t need to turn anything in.
#2 I’ll have office hours--call it the law office!--from 9:00-10:00 (Zoom link here) if you’d like to talk about the news, the streets, assignments, etc.
#3 Have a nice weekend.
HW- none
Tuesday 3/24 [Distance Learning]
Forensics Presentations
View Forensic Blood Spatter Analysis
View Forensic Art
View Forensic DNA
View Forensic Arson
View Forensic Impression Evidence
View Forensic Anthropology
View Trace Evidence
View Forensic Psychology
View Forensic Ballistics
Write one reflection including at least one thing you learned or found interesting about each presentation, and also include some larger reflection about the use of forensics to investigate and solve crimes; you can also mention last week’s forensics videos, but you don’t have to; and be sure to submit your reflection to the assignment dropbox above
HW- none
Monday 3/23 [Distance Learning]
Watch First 48: Blood in the Snow (45 min)
Note: This is a nice example of how police conduct investigations; pay attention to what the police do to try to solve the crimes, like interviewing witness, using forensic evidence, interrogating suspects and arrestees, etc.)
HW- make sure your forensics slide decks have already been submitted to the assignment dropbox above; we will be doing something with these in “class” Tuesday
Thursday 3/19 [Distance Learning]
Finish Forensics Teach-In Slides
Note: Monday will be a separate lesson
Note: Tuesday will be “presentation day” which I will explain then; please let me know if you would NOT like your slide deck posted on my website and used in the group presentations
Note: make sure you have submitted your slides to the assignment dropbox
HW- Forensics Slide Deck due Tuesday
Tuesday, 3/17 [Distance Learning]
Watch Forensic Files Clips (choose at least three under "Video Selections"; each is only about 30 seconds)
Begin Work on Forensics Teach-In
HW- Forensics Teach-In due to the dropbox next Tuesday, 3/24
Monday, 3/16 [Distance Learning]
Watch Forensics on Trial (it's about 53 minutes long so if you bristle at watching for longer than our 40 minute class period, consider the rest as "homework"; and you don't need to write anything--just watch it)
Main Idea #1 Forensics is the use of science and technology to investigate and solve crimes
Main Idea #2 Though forensics has the veil of scientific objectivity, it's often more art than science
Note: We will begin a small forensics project next class
HW- none
Old Assignments Are Here:
Tam and the Law
DUI Homicide Response (watch the 12 minute video and then answer this question: Do you agree with D.A. Kathleen Rice that DUI Homicide should be prosecuted as second degree murder? Why?)
Take a Bite Out of Crime
Criminal Performance Project
People v. Bratton Search Warrant (read the document and answer this question: Do you think Detective Malone exceeded the bounds of the warrant? Why or why not?)
*Note: this will be our last class and lesson of the year
No Zoom Classroom
Projects Due by End of Class
HW- have a wise and wonderful life!
Thursday 6/4 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Work on Project
HW- project due next Wednesday
Tuesday 6/2 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Work on Project
HW- project due on your last day
Thursday 5/28 [Distance Learning]
Culminating Mind Map (submit to dropbox; can do on paper or something like Piktochart)
Work on Project
HW- final project due on your last day
Tuesday 5/26 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (password and link in email)
Watch A Civil Action, Opening Scene (3 min; first minute or so is grainy)
Watch What is a Contract? (3 min)
Watch What is an Offer? (2 min)
Watch What is Consideration? (3 min)
Complete Contracts Practice Handout (don't have to turn in)
Work on Final Project
HW- final project due on your last day
Thursday 5/21 [Distance Learning]
Read Nolo Proving Fault Traffic Accidents
Complete Tort Hypotheticals (don’t need to turn in)
Begin Final Project
HW- final project due on your last day
Tuesday 5/19 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Read Nolo Defamation
Watch Jussie Smollett Defamation (1 min)
Watch Twitter Libel Courtney Love (3 min)
Watch Bad Yelp Review Defamation (2 min)
Watch Virginia Woman Sued Over Yelp Review (3 min)
Watch Rolling Stone Defamation (4 min)
Watch Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 min)
HW- none
Thursday 5/14 [Distance Learning]
*Optional Read: Inside Georgia’s Citizen’s Arrest Law (timely and interesting)
Read Cornell Torts
Read Four Elements of Negligence
Watch Hot Coffee Trailer (3 min)
Watch McDonald’s Hot Coffee (12 min)
HW- none
Tuesday 5/12 [Distance Learning]
New and Last Unit: Civil Law
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Check Out Marin Small Claims Court Website
Watch Some People's Court if the Spirit Moves You
HW- none
Thursday 5/7 [Distance Learning]
Watch Mass Incarceration in U.S. (4 min)
Check Out Marin County Public Booking Log
Listen to Ear Hustle Podcast Intro (4 min; listen to more episodes if you want!)
Watch Q Ball on Netflix (if you can’t, just watch the trailer, or try to find it somewhere else) or you can watch Behind Bars: Rookie Year (43 min)
HW- none
Tuesday 5/5 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Cop Talk with Detective Nick Neisius of MVPD (Zoom link and password in email)
Think of a few questions you'd like to ask him
HW- none
Thursday 4/30 [Distance Learning]
Watch 12 Angry Men Trailer (2 min)
Read Jury Deliberations (imagine what it would be like to be on a jury)
Response: If you were the judge, would you find Jamie Hayes guilty? Why? Cite evidence in your response (submit to assignment dropbox on this website)
HW- none
Tuesday 4/28 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom (link and password in email)
Watch Gideon’s Army Trailer (2 min)
Work on:
Option #1 Pick one witness and write either a direct or cross examination for them
Option #2 Write an opening or closing statement for the prosecution or defense
*Submit to dropbox on this website (don't submit to Google Classroom)
HW- be prepared to do some trial simulation stuff next class
Thursday 4/23 [Distance Learning]
Option #1 Pick one witness and write either a direct or cross examination for them
Option #2 Write an opening or closing statement for the prosecution or defense
*See People v. Hayes p.50-54, which you should have already read, for precisely how to do a direct, cross, opening, and closing
HW- this is due by end of class next Tues
Tuesday 4/21 [Distance Learning]
Zoom Classroom first 20 min at least (link and password in the email I sent you)
Note: today we’d begin watching My Cousin Vinny, so instead watch the trailer (I encourage you to watch the whole movie if you can find it; it's an entertaining way of learning how the trial process works--and doesn't)
Read People v. Hayes p.12-22
Read People v. Hayes p.23-44
HW- none
Thursday 4/16 [Distance Learning]
Watch Tam Mock Trial (3 min)
Watch PA Mock Trail State Competition (10 min)
Read People v. Hayes p.45-54 (this is like an overview of how mock trial works)
Read People v. Hayes p.55-63 (this is how attorneys make objections; it can be difficult; I will clarify next week!)
Note: Remember that we would be doing this case as a project in class, but instead you're reading it
HW- none
Tuesday 4/14 [Distance Learning]
Note: ordinarily we’d be starting our mock trial, but we can’t do that so we’ll have to adapt
Zoom Classroom first 20 min at least (link and password in the email I sent you)
Check out Marin Felony Bail Schedule and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule
Watch Frontline: The Plea (just first 6 min; but feel free to watch more if you want!)
Read pages 5-10 of People v. Hayes (this is attached in the email I sent to you as well)
Note: People v. Hayes is the mock trial case we would have been performing in class
HW- none
Spring Break
Thursday 4/2 [Distance Learning]
Note: today would have been our jail/courthouse field trip
Watch Marin Civic Center Court Shootout (4 min)
Read this if you want more info about the infamous shootout (optional)
Watch Civic Center Overview if you want to see what it looks like inside (7 min; optional)
Take a quick tour of the Marin Superior Court website (there’s actually some pretty useful stuff on here)
Watch Beyond Scared Straight (5 min)
Watch Jail vs. Prison (6 min)
Discuss this stuff with family; or digitally with friends; or journal about it
HW- have a great break! (I know it’s not a normal spring break, but try to enjoy it)
Tuesday 3/31 [Distance Learning]
Read Nolo Arrest
Read Nolo Arrest vs. Detention
Read Nolo Miranda Rights
Listen NPR: Coerced Confession (13 min)
Watch Brendan Dassey Making a Murderer Confession Breakdown (8 min)
Watch 60 Min: False Confessions (13 min)
Talk with someone about the above or just think about it
HW- none
Monday 3/30 [Distance Learning]
*Today in addition to watching the below clips we would have had a cool in-class activity in which two students from another class run in and steal my baseball bat, then run out, and you have to create a composite description of them as eyewitnesses
Watch 60 Min: Eyewitness, Part I (13 min)
Watch 60 Min: Eyewitness, Part II (13 min)
Watch Guerilla Counting Basketballs (1 min)
Think about the reliability of eyewitnesses, the potential problems with memory, and how much weight should be given to eyewitness testimony in court
HW- none
Thursday 3/26 [Distance Learning]
#1 Today would have been an awesome simulation where I stage the murder of Mr. Bernstein then have you in groups try to solve the crime, pretending you’re a detective. So today I’d like you to simply think about a crime and how you’d solve it. Just do this mentally. Think up a crime, then think about as a detective how you’d solve that crime. You don’t need to turn anything in.
#2 I’ll have office hours--call it the law office!--from 9:00-10:00 (Zoom link here) if you’d like to talk about the news, the streets, assignments, etc.
#3 Have a nice weekend.
HW- none
Tuesday 3/24 [Distance Learning]
Forensics Presentations
View Forensic Blood Spatter Analysis
View Forensic Art
View Forensic DNA
View Forensic Arson
View Forensic Impression Evidence
View Forensic Anthropology
View Trace Evidence
View Forensic Psychology
View Forensic Ballistics
Write one reflection including at least one thing you learned or found interesting about each presentation, and also include some larger reflection about the use of forensics to investigate and solve crimes; you can also mention last week’s forensics videos, but you don’t have to; and be sure to submit your reflection to the assignment dropbox above
HW- none
Monday 3/23 [Distance Learning]
Watch First 48: Blood in the Snow (45 min)
Note: This is a nice example of how police conduct investigations; pay attention to what the police do to try to solve the crimes, like interviewing witness, using forensic evidence, interrogating suspects and arrestees, etc.)
HW- make sure your forensics slide decks have already been submitted to the assignment dropbox above; we will be doing something with these in “class” Tuesday
Thursday 3/19 [Distance Learning]
Finish Forensics Teach-In Slides
Note: Monday will be a separate lesson
Note: Tuesday will be “presentation day” which I will explain then; please let me know if you would NOT like your slide deck posted on my website and used in the group presentations
Note: make sure you have submitted your slides to the assignment dropbox
HW- Forensics Slide Deck due Tuesday
Tuesday, 3/17 [Distance Learning]
Watch Forensic Files Clips (choose at least three under "Video Selections"; each is only about 30 seconds)
Begin Work on Forensics Teach-In
HW- Forensics Teach-In due to the dropbox next Tuesday, 3/24
Monday, 3/16 [Distance Learning]
Watch Forensics on Trial (it's about 53 minutes long so if you bristle at watching for longer than our 40 minute class period, consider the rest as "homework"; and you don't need to write anything--just watch it)
Main Idea #1 Forensics is the use of science and technology to investigate and solve crimes
Main Idea #2 Though forensics has the veil of scientific objectivity, it's often more art than science
Note: We will begin a small forensics project next class
HW- none
Old Assignments Are Here:
Tam and the Law
DUI Homicide Response (watch the 12 minute video and then answer this question: Do you agree with D.A. Kathleen Rice that DUI Homicide should be prosecuted as second degree murder? Why?)
Take a Bite Out of Crime
Criminal Performance Project
People v. Bratton Search Warrant (read the document and answer this question: Do you think Detective Malone exceeded the bounds of the warrant? Why or why not?)