LAW DAY MOCK TRIAL A HIT FOR 5th GRADERS / JACK BEANSTALK WALKS DUE TO HUNG JURY

After a 3 year hiatus, the Law Day Mock Trial was held on March 30th at the Hruska Federal Courthouse in Omaha. With Judge Rossiter presiding, over 100 5th grade students from Loveland and Swanson Elementary were present to witness the trial of The People v. Jack Beanstalk.

Don Kleine, as prosecutor for the state, began the trial with a strong lineup of witnesses who put Jack at the scene of the crimes, and showed motive for Jack’s stealing the Giant’s golden goose and attempted murder of the Giant when he cut down the magic beanstalk while the Giant was climbing down it in pursuit of Jack.

Local defense attorney Sean Conway, representing Jack, put on a spirited defense, showing Jack’s stealing of the golden goose and gold coins was done in good will and restorative justice, and that the cutting down of the beanstalk was self-defense from a Giant yelling “Fee Fi Fo Fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman” …who also had a penchant for eating innocent villagers.

20 5th grade students acting as the jury, deliberated, and came back with a hung jury on all counts. Jury tampering was discussed briefly when it was determined that Sean’s daughter was in the jury, but summarily dismissed as the culprit of the split decision.

A special thanks to the actors from the Rose Theater for their time acting out the roles of Jack, the Giant, and other witnesses. Thank you to Ann Miller, Judge Rossiter, Don Kleine, Sean Conway, and the school officials at Loveland and Swanson Elementary for helping make the Mock Trial happen.