STUDENT ROLE GUIDE: COURT REPORTER

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1 magistrates court mock trial competition STUDENT ROLE GUIDE: COURT REPORTER Sponsored by Organised in partnership with

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3 Contents Role Guide: Court Reporter 2 Example Court Reports 3 Judging 4 Evaluation 5 Sample Court Reports 6

4 Role Guide: Court Reporter Introduction Each year we receive over 90 court reporter entries, which are judged centrally at Citizenship Foundation, in conjunction with a real journalist. Up to 2 court reporters from each team attend a local heat and watch a trial, taking notes. Competition Rules 1. From the day of the local heat, you have 2 weeks to submit your report of maximum 250 words to your teacher, who should send it the MCMT Project Officer at the Citizenship Foundation. 2. All participants receive certificates, so please clearly write your name and school on the back of your entry. 3. Write in the style of a local, tabloid or broadsheet newspaper. See page 4 for judging guidelines. 4. You can approach the defendant, victim or witnesses for a quote, but you cannot ask the magistrates. 5. You may take photographs outside the court building, or sketch the proceedings going on inside the court to use in your report. Real Court Rules Make sure your report does not infringe any laws: Contempt Magistrates, not the press decide the case. Reporters must not write anything to prejudice a fair trial. However, in the competition, the verdict will have already been given. Libel The law assumes that everyone has a good reputation. Do not write something that proves otherwise unless you have evidence that it is correct. Reporting restrictions The administration of justice must be done in public, therefore publication of accurate reports of proceedings should not be prevented. However, there are restrictions on the reporting of the identity of young people under 18 (address, school etc.), unless the defendant is convicted. The identity of an alleged victim of rape or sexual assault is also protected. Tips Consult reports of criminal cases from newspapers (see the examples provided here), the radio, and television to give you ideas about format and appropriate vocabulary. During the trial, make a note of quotes by witnesses and lawyers to include in your article. Keep your headlines brief and eye-catching to capture the reader s attention. Begin your article with an introductory sentence summarising the case, developing this in the main text. Make several drafts before completing the report. Check what you have written is fair and accurate. 2

5 Court Reports The following article is from an online local newspaper (also visit your local library): Row with girlfriend led to store raid [13/08/06 A roofer has described how a row with his girlfriend sent him spiralling back into a life of crime with a 5,000 raid on Marks & Spencer in Kingston. Paul Lacey, 25, from the Watersedge Estate in West Ewell, appeared at Kingston Magistrates Court last Thursday charged with being one of two men who broke into the Clarence Street store at about 11pm on March 19. Lacey has previous convictions including two other burglaries of Marks and Spencers' stores and was caught through DNA evidence after cutting his hand. The men smashed the glass panel on a door, then forced open tills and stole cash and gift vouchers to the value of 5,000. Mr Lacey claimed to have only made about 350 because most of the value was in unusable vouchers. Mr Lacey pleaded guilty but said on the day of the burglary he had argued with his girlfriend and she asked him to move out. He went to a friend's house, started drinking, and the pair hatched a plan to burgle the store. The magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing. One told him: "It is a great pity you seem to have had this lapse, but we do take it very seriously. By Clara Story National reports online: Caprice loses drink-drive appeal [25/08/06, BBC Online, Model Caprice has lost her appeal against a drink-driving ban and been banned from driving for 12 months. Doherty admits possessing drugs [20/01/06, BBC Online, Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty has pleaded guilty to possessing heroin, crack cocaine, morphine and cannabis at Thames Magistrates Court. 3

6 Guidelines and Judging Sheet Court Reporter Headlines Style Content Quotes Accuracy & facts Structure Language Headlines keep short, aim to grab reader s attention and indicate what article is about The article can be in the style of a local newspaper, tabloid or broadsheet Be objective, either emphasise the effects of the crime, impact on the victim or defendant, or comment more generally about the crime in context /10 The defendant/victim/witnesses can be approached for a quote, but not the magistrates Accuracy the report must be accurate and the writer should be able to prove what they have written Facts the account should be factual and avoid personal comments and analysis /10 Includes a clear introduction at the start and conclusion at the end. First paragraph short and snappy to catch reader s attention Should contain all the most important information: the crime; the victim/defendant; the verdict Language should use appropriate language for the publication. Correct grammar and spelling Length The article should be approximately 250 words Total 0 4

7 Evaluation We have provided two questionnaires for students to fill in, both before and after you participate in the heats so that we can evaluate this year's competition. These are called Pre-participation (to be filled in before the heat) and Post-participation evaluations (to be filled in after your last heat so if you proceed to the regional or national final, please fill in this one after that). They can be found online at: Pre-participation Evaluation: Post-participation Evaluation: It is really important for us to hear your opinions about the competition so that we can make improvements for future years. Every student that completes both surveys will be entered into a draw to receive a 20 voucher. The survey data will be used anonymously, but we do ask that you please enter your name and your school s name at the end so that we can enter you into the draw and contact your teacher to send you the prize if you are selected. Finally, we hope you enjoy participating in the Magistrates Court Mock Trial Competition! Good luck! 5

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