The purpose of our ACLU v. Luzerne County simulation is for you to demonstrate the skills you have developed over the first half of the term, specifically:

For the simulation each side will get a maximum of eight (8) minutes to present their case.  The ACLU team will go first.  Each member must speak for between three (3) and four (4) minutes.  Following the presentation, the Judges will be able to ask questions for three (3) minutes.  When the questions are concluded, the Luzerne County team will present.  Each member must speak for between three (3) and four (4) minutes.  Following the presentation, the Judges will be able to ask questions for five (3) minutes.

As you can see, the presentation and questions will take a maximum of 22 minutes.  When this is complete, each team has the option of making a 1 minute summary argument. At that time, the Judges will withdraw to their chambers (our classroom) and decide the winner. 

For the lawyers in the case, your grade will be out of 30 points, with a chance to earn up to 10 points for your mastery of the case law; up to 10 points for the clearness of your argument; and up to 10 points for the quality of your presentation (or up to 10 points for teamwork if you are not presenting verbally).

For the judges, your grade will be out of 30 points, with a chance to earn up to 10 points for asking questions that help clarify the case; and up to 20 points for your written opinion in the case. 

As you plan out your preparation for the simulation (90 minutes of class time, plus three nights of homework time) lawyers should make sure that the arguments are equally divided between the two or three speaking members of the group to avoid repetition.  Lawyers and Judges should make sure that they are fully aware of the reasoning in the Allegheny case, as well as in any other significant precedents

Remember that legal reasoning will employ the Constitution, laws and previous Court opinions.  In this case, there are no laws that really apply, so you will want to make sure that you are focusing on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment as well as the precedents.  

Teams should tell me which two or three members of the groups will be speaking.  Ideally, I would prefer the speakers to be people whose parents are visiting that day, but that is not a requirement. 

Teams should collaborate with a shared GoogleDoc (shared with me!) on which it is made VERY CLEAR who has contributed what. Lawyers should probably plan to spend Thursday's class rehearsing their group presentation. I will be available to critique your presentation on Thursday, if you would like to show me a preview. 

 

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