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When Justice Is Up To You

A complete program designed to educate students about trial by jury

Today's students will be tomorrow's jurors. Most students have little awareness of the power of trial by jury—or the immense responsibility that they could one day bear as jurors. But now a comprehensive public education program designed especially for students can help give them a better understanding of America's jury system and their future role in it.

When Justice Is Up To You began as a series of integrated lessons developed by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and the National Institute for Citizen Education in the Law (NICEL) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights in 1991. During that year, AAJ and NICEL staged an extremely successful mock trial—with high school students in key roles--based on the lessons. Today, When Justice Is Up To You comprises a manual, a video, and instructional materials to accompany the video. Together, they help teachers convey the importance of trial by jury—by letting students experience it themselves.

MANUAL (Free):
The seven-lesson manual outlines a complete course in justice, ranging from history's trial by ordeal to our modern American system of impartial jurors. Each lesson provides objectives, background information for the teacher, supporting activities, and handouts. The course includes a mock trial about drinking and driving that allows students to hear testimony—and then deliberate and bring in a verdict.

VIDEO ($19.95 - includes shipping & handling)
The 50-minute video portrays the civil case of Vickers v. Hearst, involving the question of host liability for misuse of alcohol. High school students serve as the plaintiff and defendant and witnesses. Two of the nation's foremost trial attorneys represent the plaintiff and defendant, and a distinguished Superior Court Judge presides. The video comes with the five-lesson manual. It also comes with a 4-page instructional materials packet, which describes offer various ways to present the video. Logical stopping points are suggested, along with guides to areas of possible discussions and follow-up lessons. The materials also provide ample references to lessons contained within the manual to help familiarize students with the purpose of civil trials, the various participants in a trial, the trial process, and the roles of the attorneys, judge, and jury.

Order When Justice Is Up To You today. The more that students understand their role, the better they will fulfill their future responsibilities as jurors. When juries speak, justice by and for the people prevails.

Please send your order and payment to:

When Justice Is Up To You
AAJ Media Relations
1050 31st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
FAX to: (202) 342-5484

Balancing the Scales of Justice
American Association for Justice • The Leonard M. Ring Law Center
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