Bolingbrook Students Get Lesson in US Justice System

Submitted by Valley View School District 365U

Photo: Witness Justin Gibbs answers defense attorney Iris Timothe’s question while Judge Cathy McCaffrey takes notes during an American Government class mock trial at Bolingbrook High School.

BOLINGBROOK, IL - Cathy McCaffrey’s American Government classes at Bolingbrook High School this week learned first-hand about the U.S. judicial system courtesy of a mock trial involving a pretend case in which a battered woman killed her husband.

“They got packets of information a few weeks ago that they worked on,” Mrs. McCaffrey said. “We spend a couple of days going over it. But most of it is up to them. They take their ideas from Law and Order and things like that.”

The pretend case, United States vs. Dominique Stephens, involves a battered woman who admitted killing her husband while he was sleeping but was charged with first degree murder. Her defense centers around battered woman syndrome.

Students in each of four classes portray the bailiff, the defendant or witnesses. They serve on the defense team, the prosecution team or jury. Mrs. McCaffrey is the judge. Each class conducts its own trial.

“The kids are very creative,” Mrs. McCaffrey said, pointing out in past years they have used makeup to portray injuries and put on their best clothes for the trial. “You never know what you’re going to get.”

What should her students learn from this?

“There are two things they should learn from this class: voting and being on a jury,” Mrs. McCaffrey said, adding the mock trial helps them discover two things about the judicial system. “A) It’s harder than you think it is and B) It’s harder than you think it is.”