Geffen Academy Animal Farm Mock Trial at UCLA Law School

The main accusation centered on the allegation that Napoleon et al., changed the Seven Commandments of Animalism for their own purposes and created a hierarchy on the farm, instead of a republic. The trial featured opening arguments, witness statements, direct examination of witnesses, cross-examinations by opposing litigators, redirects, and closing arguments. The judges were Mr. Justin Bernstein, the Director of the A. Barry Cappello Program in Trial Advocacy, and Andrew Whitcup, the Assistant Director of the Office of Public Interest Programs at the law school. They presided over the trials and rendered a verdict based on the preponderance of evidence presented. The plaintiffs, Benjamin, Boxer, and Muriel opened the witness segment of the trial, delineating the salient points raised in their witness statements. Following that, the defense brought Napoleon, Squealer, and Whymper to the stand, to answer the plaintiffs’ accusations.

Leading up to the day of the trial, the 6th grade humanities students read and annotated the first eight chapters of George Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm, practiced the nuances of litigation, dissected witness statements, and worked together in teams of plaintiffs and defendants in preparation for the trial. In addition to their humanities teachers’ guidance, they also benefited from the expertise of UCLA Law professors (and current Geffen Academy parents) Patrick Goodman and Amelia Collins, and Professor Sarah Wetzstein, without whom this partnership would not be possible.  In addition, UCLA School of Law professors Gerloni Cotton and Deidre Lanning along with law students Morgan Boutilier, Rob Carpenter, Sophia DiFilippo, Edouard Goguillon, Kelly Koehnen, Abby Kingsley, Emily Moore, Alejandro Ramirez, and Jenn Schulman, volunteered to coach students.  

 

Overall, the project was successful on many levels and we were thrilled to be able to conduct the trials at the law school!  Students engaged in research began to think like trial attorneys and conducted themselves in the courtroom in a manner that reaffirmed The UNited States of America’s commitment to the rule of law.