We need volunteers to serve as jurors in the trial. The mock trial will recreate all aspects of a real trial, including jury selection (voir dire), opening statements, the prosecution and defense case-in-chief, closing arguments, jury deliberations, and verdict. The trial will be presided over by the Honorable Lawrence J. Vilardo, United States District Judge for the Western District of New York.
Volunteer jurors who are selected during voir dire will hear the entire trial and participate in deliberations. Volunteer jurors who are not selected during voir dire will be free to leave or to stay and observe the trial. We encourage you to stay and watch.
The trial will be observed by criminal defense lawyers from across New York State. At the conclusion of the trial, the volunteer jurors will engage in deliberations. And whereas jury deliberations are ordinarily a "black box," entirely closed off from view, the mock jury's deliberations will be streamed live on closed circuit TV and observed by the trial participants and attendees! Following the announcement of the verdict Judge Vilardo will lead a question-and-answer session about the day's proceedings.
Volunteers must register before October 3rd. You register using the link below. If you have any questions, you can contact Professor Kevin Hinkley, khinkley@niagara.edu.
Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSff2izbI_o2K4Dckw0ix8PBB-5MLe4ONHAHu-RYcMutsUzkIQ/viewform
