Harding class lays down the law and examines it

The case involves Fourth and Fifth Amendment questions.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Brittany Joseph, 16, popped up from her seat at the municipal court defense table, volleying a series of objections to prosecution witnesses.
Brittany, a junior at Warren G. Harding High School, portrayed a defense attorney in the mock trial of a high school student accused of bringing a bomb, tucked in a backpack, to a political rally.
Brittany was one of 23 Harding students participating in the mock trial Wednesday before Judge Terry Ivanchak of Warren Municipal Court.
The students in Mary Mignella's Legally Speaking class wrote their opening and closing statements and direct and cross-examinations in the case.
They took on roles of defendant, prosecuting and defense attorneys and witnesses on both sides of the issue. School board members and members of the community filled jurors' seats.
Mignella, who is also an attorney, said the students studied the rules of evidence and court depositions in preparation for the mock event.
Brittany said she revised one of her arguments five times.
The case involved Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues.
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Fifth Amendment, among other things, protects citizens from testifying against themselves in criminal cases.
The prosecution argued that the student confessed, after which a police detective confiscated her laptop computer, which contained information about how to make a bomb.
The defense contended that the confession was involuntary because the student, who suffers from diabetes, hadn't eaten properly and wasn't aware of what she was saying.
The jury sided with the defense and set the defendant free.
Impact of class
Mignella said some of the students have decided to pursue law careers after participating in the mock trials.
"It's one of the careers I'm looking into," said Brittany, who also took the class as a freshman.
Although Ken Davis, 17 and a senior, doesn't plan on a law career after graduation, he said he's found the class interesting and he learned about the law.
Ken, who portrayed a prosecuting attorney, said work on the case started about two months ago with students reviewing court depositions and studying court rules.
Although the basics of what witnesses say in direct testimony had been predetermined, opposing attorneys developed their cross-examinations, and objections were unrehearsed.
Another Harding class will present the mock trial next week.
denise.dick@vindy.com