How is Mock Trial different from Moot Court?
Mock Trial covers the portion of a case where you argue evidence, gather testimony, and build the record (usually in front of a jury, but in the case of a bench trial, in front of the judge). After a case has been decided on the trial level, it might be appealed. That’s the stage where a panel of judges reviews the records for errors—that is, did the trial judge err in any rulings of decisions? This is what Moot Court covers: arguing to a panel of judges. In terms of the actual program process, Mock Trial involves working with a case problem (a complaint, an answer, depositions, etc.) and prepping witnesses to prepare for a live trial. Moot Court involves working with a record, writing briefs and arguing the law to a panel of judges. There are no witnesses called or facts argued in Moot Court, because the record is already set at the trial phase.
