AP GOVERNMENT
PROJECT FOUR - 4TH QUARTER
MODEL SUPREME COURT
For your 20% project grade for the 4th quarter, each class will simulate the Federal Supreme Court case process. Each class will be divided into the following:
1. Lawyers - 2 per case - 8 to 11 cases per
class
2. Justices - 9 per class - role-play the
assigned justice
3. Friend of the court lawyers - as needed per
class
The project lawyers,
cases, justices and court docket will be assigned after the AP test in
May.
Lawyer pairs and "friend of the court" lawyers will:
Print out a copy of the following for your case. Use this to prepare your brief and oral argument notes. Turn in this copy along with your oral argument notes after your oral argument.
1. Case summary – go to: http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html - For 2008-2009 cases, click on the “Cases argued this term” link – scroll to your case – click on the LII Bulletin link. For other year terms cases, click on the “LII Bulletin” link under Supreme Court Collection – under “Archives”, click on the “year previews” for your year case – scroll to your case – click on the “liibulletin preview” link
2. Also print out one copy of the other class docket cases summaries from this site.
3. Class case docket from the class web page.
Research and prepare a “brief”. (typed, 2 page maximum summary of main points and arguments supporting the side of the
case assigned to you. Ten copies of your brief are due on or before 2:30 PM: 5/14/09(A) & 5/15/09 (B)
Prepare notes for your oral argument date. (see class case docket) Turn in notes and case docket outline
copies after your oral
argument.
Turn in your class case docket period handout with the assigned lawyer pairs, justices and the court docket dates along with your decisions in each case from your class (record on the back of the handout - Bring the LIIBulletin Previews case summaries to help) after the last oral argument for your class.
(extra credit for serving once as a
substitute justice) (extra credit for one
"amicus curiae" brief) (extra credit for “dressing up” as a lawyer on
your oral argument date)
Justices will prepare a folder with printouts of the following from: http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html
1. A biography of your justice (use link under LII Resources – “the justices)
2. Case summaries for each case – go to: http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html - For 2008-2009 cases, click on the “Cases argued this term” link – scroll to class cases – click on the LII Bulletin link. For other year terms cases, click on the “LII Bulletin” link under Supreme Court Collection – under “Archives”, click on the “year previews” for the previous year cases – scroll to the class cases – click on the “liibulletin preview” link
3. Class case docket from the class web page.
4. United States Supreme Court decisions for each case, go to: http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html - For 2008-2009 cases, click on the “Cases argued this term” link – scroll to class cases - click on “Docket Information” – click on “Syllabus” – click on “HTML version” - print the opinion for each case (from title down to the justices names) - For other year terms cases, click on the “LII Bulletin” link under Supreme Court Collection – under “Archives”, click on the “year previews” for your class cases – scroll to the case – click on the “Docket Information” link – click on “Syllabus” – click on “HTML version” – print the opinion for each case (from the title down to the Justices names).
5. Collect copies of briefs from class lawyers for each case on the folder check day. (read briefs before each case oral argument)
Folder check with the
above on 5/14/09 (A) & 5/15/09 (B)
Justices are responsible to do the following:
A. Listen, ask questions (15 pts) and vote on each case presented.
B. Type one majority opinion on your assigned case from one of the 7-9 cases using the briefs, oral argument points and questions
and the original case summaries information in the case.
C. Turn in the typed majority opinion and announce the court decision the next class period before the new oral arguments begin.
(you may turn in one dissenting and
one concurring opinion from the other cases for extra credit)
ORAL ARGUMENTS: 5/18/09 to 6/1/09
1. Lawyers will present their cases according to the dates set by the justices on the court docket for each class.
2. Each lawyer will have up to 7 minutes to present their oral argument and answer questions by the justices. Time not used can be
reserved for rebuttal.
3. Justices will confer the last 30 minutes of class to discuss and vote and assign the majority opinion writer. (lawyers not arguing
will serve as substitute justices according to the chief justice sub list)
4. Up to three cases per day will be heard until all cases are finished.
GRADING:
A scoring guide listed on the web page under 4th quarter project lists all criteria for evaluation for each lawyer and justice to determine your final grade for project 4.
This project is worth 100 points and counts as your 20% project grade for the 4th Quarter.
Additional grading guidelines:
Attendance/participation is required for the model supreme court - (see the assessment sheet for the specific dates and points)
Late penalty – missing after 2:30 PM on due date, grade
drops to a “C” – missing on 2nd day, grade drops to a “D” – missing
on third day, grade drops to a ZERO!
SOURCES:
Web sites - FindLaw- http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/supreme_court/resources.html
Hermes - http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/supcourt/supcourt.htm
On the Docket website: http://otd.oyez.org/
LexisNexis – online database from Westfield High School Library