Courtroom Roles Responsibilities and Terms

What are roles of the police officer in a trial?

• Testify to the facts in the case

• Review their report with the prosecutor (DA)

• Come to court looking presentable

• Lie in order to secure a conviction

What is the prosecutor?

• A Lawyer

• A representative of the state

• Represents the defendant

• Is the first to present their opening statement

What is the role of the Prosecution?

• Secure a conviction (guilty verdict)

• Present the state's case (evidence)

• Give a closing statement second

• Conduct Direct and Cross examinations

Who is the defense attorney

• Someone who is retained(hired) by or appointed to the defendant (bad guy)

• A lawyer

• Seeks to prove his client is innocent (get their client acquitted)

• Represents the state

What does the defense attorney do?

• Give an opening statement after the prosecution

• Gives their closing statement first

• Conducts Direct and Cross Examinations

• Object when the prosecutor asks illegal (improper) questions

What is the Judge

• A lawyer

• Is the "referee" in the court room

• Has the final say on objections

• Can be used to decide guilt or innocence if a jury trial is waived

What is direct examination?

• the first series of questions asked of the witness by the prosecutor or defense attorneys when they are presenting their case

• the first series of questions asked of the witness by the prosecutor or defense attorneys when the other side is presenting their case

The defendant....

• Can plead the 5th and refuse to testify

• Can testify on their behalf only and not be cross examined

• Is the person being accused of a crime

• Is the only person who can waive the right of a trial by a jury

The bailiffs duties include

• Administering the oath to anyone who takes the stand

• Taking things to and from the judge

• Doing anything else that the judge needs him or her to do

• Testifying

A jury's responsibilities include

• making TikTok videos during the trial

• coming to a unanimous decision

• deciding what the punishment of the defendant should be if they are found guilty (sometimes)

• Observing the trial and then deciding on the guilt or innocence of the defendant