Grades 4-6: Due Process Freedoms Yertle the Turtle Mock Trial How to Conduct Your Mock Trial Each attorney may make an opening statement. This is the attorney's opportunity to tell the jury a little about the case and what he or she intends to prove. After opening statements, each attorney may call witnesses. In this mock trial, each witness may be questioned for a maximum of three minutes. The attorney for the plaintiff is always allowed to present her or his case first. After each witness has testified for the party that called him or her, the attorney for the other side may ask the witness questions for two minutes. This is called cross-examination, and the attorney may ask questions only about information that the witness has already talked about. After the witnesses have testified, each attorney delivers a closing argument to talk with the jury and summarize what the witnesses have said that helps his or her side of the case. The attorney tells the jury why they should agree with his or her client's position. After closing arguments, the jurors go to a room where they can review and discuss the case privately. When they all agree on a verdict, they tell the judge what they have decided. >>Yertle the Turtle Mock Trial >>A Note to Jurors >>How to Conduct Your Mock Trial >>Roles for Students Law Day For Schools Home | Law Day Lessons Home