Native Son Mock Trial Analysis

Overall, this year’s Native Son Mock Trial went very well, even if there are a few growth areas for the lawyers and witnesses. Most of the lawyers did a very good job presenting their ideas and examining witnesses. Growth areas for them would be to be more prepared when going up questioning the witnesses, speaking louder, and actually asking relevant questions that would support their side. Additionally, I think the judge should know her responsibilities better and know when to say what. In addition, the judge should have been more forceful and assertive, so the trial could go by smoothly. As for the witnesses, most of them were very into character and had statements to support their side. One thing that would have enhanced most of their performances …show more content…
Kendall did a superb job being into character because he spoke with a British accent and used scientific terms, as he was a psychologist. He supported his side by criminalizing Bigger and stating Bessie’s death to be the most peculiar one he had ever seen; he provided for us evidence that Bessie was raped, hit with a brick, had a fractured skull, and had alcohol in her system. Furthermore, he had a good comeback to one of the defense team’s lawyer’s question and statement that it was Bessie’s choice to drink alcohol. Kendall’s response was that Bessie was not that intoxicated and can fend off someone small. He succeeded in not being used by the opposing team, and I don’t think there is anything he could have done better. On account of Kendall’s excellent performance of his character, preparation of his lines, knowledge of his character, and statement of beneficial facts to support his team, I gave him a score of …show more content…
Lidia was extremely confident when she said her lines and had many statements that benefitted her team. For example, she said she felt unsafe with Bigger since he was involved in gang activity, Bigger used white supremacy as an excuse, he was completely sane, and that he was not a role model to her as he continuously dodged responsibility in the house. Her statements showed that Bigger does not benefit society, is a danger to the citizens, and therefore should be sentenced to the death penalty. Another thing that she did well in was responding to the defense team’s questioning because she made sure not to give statements that would benefit the other team. I do not think Lidia could have done anything better, and this is why I gave her a score of