Below are some examples of questions to use with your client. Go over them with your client before the trial. Rise whenever you address the judge or jury.
REMEMBER:Everything must be entirely honest. The defendant is under oath. Make the questions fit your case. Use only those questions which are relevant to that case. Don't ask your client anything that will make he/she look bad. Keep it simple; focus on only a few questions your client can answer easily. Make notes of the things the prosecution says that you want to refute in your closing argument.
QUESTIONS:
1. Is this your first offense? (If it isn't, don't ask.)
2. Tell exactly what happened
3. Where were you going? Who was with you? When was it?
4. If theft, example: Why did you take the item?
5. Do you usually take things that are not yours?
6. Do you usually obey the law?
7. How old are you?
8. Do you help at home with the chores?
9. What responsibilities do you have? Do you attend to them well?
10. Do you have good attendance at school?
11. What school activities do you participate in? (clubs, offices, sports, honors, grades)
12. Did your parents punish you for this offense? How were you punished? What did they think of the offense?
13. Do you think you will ever commit this offense again? Are you sorry for what you did?
14. What do you plan to do to keep from doing this again?
In your closing address to the jury, make eye contact and face the jurors. Thank them for their attention and tell them you are sure they will make a just decision for your client. Stress client's remorse, good points, or any suffering your client may already have endured for the offense. Attempt to elicit any sympathy you can from the jurors.
Teen Court Defense Questionaire
Personal
1. How do you feel about being here?
2. How old are you?
3. How long have you lived in _________ ?
4. Do you have any siblings? If so, how old are they?
5. Who do you live with?
6. Do you work? If so, where? for how long? how often? what do you do?
School
7. Where do you go to school?
8. What grade are you in?
9. What do you plan on doing in the future?
10. Do you ever skip school? If so, how often? Why?
11. Have you gotten in trouble at school? If so, What for? How long ago?
Special Interests
12. What special interests do you have?
13. What are you most proud of?
Regarding the offense
14. What happened on the day you were arrested?
15. Was anyone with you at the time? If so, Do you know them? How old are they? Whose idea was it to commit the crime? Are you still involved with these people? What is your relationship to them now?
16. Why did you commit the crime?
17. What are your feelings now about what you did?
18. Would you feel the same way if you had not been caught?
19. If you had the chance to do it over again and not get caught, would you do it?
20. What would you do next time if you were in a similar situation?
21. Have you ever committed this type of offense before? If so, talk about it.
22. Have you committed this offense since the time of your arrest?
23. Have you ever been arrested for anything before? If so, what for and do you still do that activity?
24. Back to the original offense, how does your crime affect the victim and the community?
25. Did your parents punish you? If so, What was the punishment and for how long did it last?
26. Who is paying the Teen Court fee, you or your parents?
27. If you were a parent and your child did what you did, what would you have done?
28. Who did you hate telling about your arrest the most? Why?
29. What do your friends think about what you did?
Sentencing Sheet
Explain all of the constructive sentencing options to both the client and his/her parents.
30. What sentence do you think you deserve? Why?
31. How would you rate your self-esteem? (high or low) Why?
32. Do you feel that you need to give back to the community?
Minor's Questions
33. Do you have any questions about what will happen in the courtroom today?
34. Is there anything else that you would like the jury to know?
35. Are you having a hard time answering questions? Why?
The documents on this
site are a product of Knox County Teen Court, 55 West
Tompkins Street, Galesburg, Illinois. (April
1998)
