Julius Caesar Mock Trial Assignment
On March 15, 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate shortly after giving a
speech. At the time, Julius Caesar was a popular and successful statesman and general. A group of
Roman Senators conspired and then carried out the plot to kill Caesar. For this assignment, we will take
on the persona of characters from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar to place one character on trial for the
murder of Caesar. A majority vote will determine which character will be tried for the crime.
The following characters are needed for the mock trial:
Patronus 1 (Defense)
Patronus 2 (Defense)
Delator 1 (Prosecution)
Delator 2 (Prosecution)
Julius Caesar*
Brutus*
Cassius *
Antony*
Casca*
Decius*
Metellus*
Portia*
Calphurnia*
Trebonius
Cinna
Ligarius
Artemidorus
Soothsayer
Popilius
Cicero
Cinna the Poet
*Key Witness
1 - Choosing Roles
Each student will be assigned a number, and a random number generator will determine the order in
which students choose their mock trial roles. Some students who choose smaller roles (characters who
have fewer lines to analyze) may have to double up.
The Praetor (judge) will direct the trial proceedings. The judge will call the trial to order. The patronus
must ask for the praetor’s permission to call a subscriptor to the stand.
Write down which characters are the Patronus, Prosecution, Defense, and Subscriptors so you know
which people to call to the stand or which people you are arguing against.
Nominus Delatio (Formal Charges) –
Praetor –
Plaintiff (the accuser) – The Republic of Rome
Defendant (the accused) –
Subscriptores (Witnesses) – Cassius’s conspirators, family members, friends; family and associates of
the victim Gaius Julius Caesar; other Romans
2 - Requirements
 All characters must speak during the trial. All patronus should check with each other to ensure
all witnesses get called to the stand at some point.
 All characters must prepare notes for their role (homework grade).
 All characters must take trial notes when they are not speaking.
 After the court rests for deliberation, all participants will take on the responsibility of the jury.
o State your verdict (Is the accused innocent or guilty?)
o Explain your verdict (Refer to the text and to your trial notes)
3 - Courtroom Decorum
Patronus and subscriptores are expected to behave in a respectful and reserved manner when in
Court. Patronus may hold each other accountable by making “Objections” to the opposing side’s
statements (see “Rules of Evidence” handout). Objections must be used judiciously (when it matters),
or the Praetor will overrule the objections. All participations not on the subscriptores’ stand must be
silent during the proceedings so that everyone present can hear the statements clearly.
Mock Trial Procedure and Schedule
Introductions
1) Judge calls the Court to order and announces the “Nominus Delatio” (5 minutes)
Opening Statements
1) Patronus for Prosecution (3 minutes)
2) Patronus for Defense (3 minutes)
Prosecution Case
1) Subscriptor
a. Direct-Examination by patronus for the Prosecution (6 minutes)
b. Cross-Examination by patronus for the Defense (3 minutes)
Repeat until each of the Prosecution’s subscriptores have been called.
Prosecution will rest their case.
Defense Case
1) Subscriptor
c. Direct-Examination by patronus for the Defense (6 minutes)
d. Cross-Examination by patronus for the Prosecution (3 minutes)
Repeat until each of the Defense’s subscriptores have been called.
Defense will rest their case.
Closing Statements
1) Patronus for Prosecution (3 minutes)
2) Patronus for Defense (3 minutes)
Jury Deliberation
1) All students write a one-page response to the trial, which states and explains their verdicts.
Verdict
1) The Praetor announces the verdict after collecting a tally from the jury’s written responses.
Dismissal
1) The Praetor concludes the trail with deconstruction of the case.
Trial Preparation Notes: Patronus
*Needs to be checked by the Praetor before the trial begins*
Directions: Write your trial material on other pieces of paper. You will use these notes
during the trial. You should write the notes in a way that is most useful to you as a lawyer.
All portions of your trial notes should cite textual evidence.
Role: _____________________________________
1 - Opening statement These comments will be the first things you say to the Court. It is a preview of
your case and gives the jury an overview of what is to follow. Use simple language and not too much
detail. Directly state what your case will prove. Write out your opening statement. State the name of
the name of the case, your name, the name of your client, and the name of the opponent. Provide a
brief preview of the facts.
2 - Direct Examination The patronus guides the witness through his case using questions that are
designed to bring out the main facts. Use non-leading, open-ended questions. It is known as “friendly”
questioning because the lawyer is questioning his own witness. These should lead to answers that
work in favor of your side. Isolate the information each witness can contribute to proving your case.
Prepare a series of questions designed to obtain that information.
3 - Evidence Between the four patronus, you should present 3 pieces of physical evidence to the
court. You may bring in props, but UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU BRING ANYTHING EVEN
RESEMBLING A WEAPON TO SCHOOL.
4 - Cross Examination Opposing attorneys challenge witnesses and try to attack their credibility. Use
leading questions designed to make the jury doubt the truthfulness of the witnesses’ testimony. This is
an “unfriendly” questioning. List questions that you will ask during cross-examination.
What types of questions should I ask?
 Questions that lead the witness to answer in a way that will help your case
 Questions that show the witness is prejudiced or biased
 Questions that weaken the testimony of the witness by showing his or her opinion is
questionable
 Questions that reflect on the witness’ credibility by showing he or she has given a contrary
statement at another time
5 - Closing Arguments This is the attorneys’ last chance to make an impression on their jury. It is a
summary of the case presented in a way to convince the jury that their version of the story is correct.
Write out the main points you wish to make in the closing argument. You will more fully develop this
statement during the trial as new material or insights are presented.
Needs to be turned in at the end of the trial:



Thorough preparation notes and record of evidence
Trial notes and Mock Trial Rubric
Juror’s verdict and explanation (1-2 pages) and rubric
Trial Preparation Notes: Subscriptores
*Needs to be checked by the Praetor before the trial begins*
Directions: Write your trial material on other pieces of paper. You will use these notes
during the trial. You should write the notes in a way that is most useful to you as a witness.
You should base all of your answers in the text. All parts of your trial notes should cite
textual evidence. You can explain yourself in a way that embodies the character, but you
should not make up answers that cannot be justified by a line from the play.
Role: _____________________________________
1 - Sworn Statement To embody a character well enough to tell the “whole truth and nothing but,”
you should know everything about your character. Re-read the text and look at each line your
character speaks or that another character says about you. Create a 2 page Sworn Statement that
includes an extensive character profile based on evidence from the play. The patronus will try to use
this character information against you in cross-examination.
In your Sworn Statement, you should answer the following questions:
 Who are you?
 How are you related to the accused party? How are you related to Gaius Julius Caesar?
 What is your role in the play?
 What are your characteristics? How would you describe your personality?
2- Direct Examination Answers Talk to the patronus for the defense and the prosecution to get the
list of questions that they may ask you during the trial. You should use the text to find passages that
help you develop your answer to each question. Write your answers to the questions and refer to
specific passages in the play.
3 - Cross Examination Answers During your cross examination, the patronus will attempt to
manipulate your story. As a witness, you are called to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth. Therefore, you must justify all of your answers in the text. Write down questions that the
patronus could ask that would attack your credibility. How will you answer these questions?
Needs to be turned in at the end of the trial:




Sworn Statement
Preparation notes for direct and cross examinations
Trial notes and Mock Trial Rubric
Juror’s verdict and explanation (1-2 pages) and rubric
Mock Trial Rubric
Name: _______________________________
Preparation
and
Research
____/60 points
Voice
____/10 points
Eye Contact
____/10 points
Authenticity
____/10 points
Courtroom Decorum
____/10 points
*BONUS* Memorization
_____/10 points
60 points
Participant’s statement is fully
developed, completely
consistent with the play, and
accurately performed. Their
questions/answers are
relevant, logical, and clear.
10 points
Participant is easily
understood and has
consistent use of appropriate
rate, volume, and intonation.
10 points
Participant establishes
appropriate eye contact for
the situation and setting. The
participant does not read
from notes but engages in
dialogue with the attorneys or
witnesses.
10 points
The participant’s persona
seems very real, and he or
she has an excellent use of
body and facial expression;
words and gestures match;
speech is well adapted to the
setting.
10 points
The participant interacts
appropriately with the
Praetor and Patronus.
10 points
The participant quotes
multiple lines from memory
exactly as they are written in
the text.
Total: ________/100 points
Red
Black
Block 1 2 3 4
45 points
Participant’s statement is
adequately developed,
fairly consistent with the
play, and accurately
performed. Their
questions/answers are
relevant, logical, and clear
most of the time.
7 points
Participant is understood
most of the time and has an
appropriate rate, volume,
and intonation most of the
time.
7 points
Participant establishes
appropriate eye contact
most of the time. The
participant occasionally
reads from notes but
engages in dialogue with
the attorneys or witnesses.
7 points
The participant’s persona is
believable, and he or she
has an adequate use of
body and facial expression;
speech is fairly well adapted
to the setting.
30 points
The participant’s written
work or performance shows
a lack of preparation.
7 points
The participant interacts
appropriately with the
Praetor and Patronus most
of the time.
5 points
The participant quotes one
line from memory exactly as
it is written in the text.
5 points
The participant is distracted
and has inappropriate
behavior.
5 points
Participant is not easily
understood, and his or her
delivery needs work.
5 points
Participant does not
establish eye contact during
the trial. The participant
reads from notes and does
not engage in dialogue with
the attorney or witnesses.
5 points
The participant needs to be
more convincing, and he or
she has an inadequate use
of body and facial
expression; speech is not
adapted to the setting.
0 points
The participant does not
quote any line from
memory.
Juror’s Verdict
Directions: On separate paper, write a 1-2 page response explaining your personal opinion on the
defendant’s guilt or innocence. You must explain why you voted the way you did (guilty or innocent)
using information from the play and information from the mock trial. You can refer to your trial notes
to help you explain how certain witnesses’ answers led you to your conclusion. Include how each character’s
personality affected your vote and what testimony or evidence influenced your vote the most. When you refer
to the text, you should use line numbers to cite the passage.
*Note – Every participant is an objective jury member for this assignment. You may submit a verdict that goes
against your arguments/role for the trial. This is OKAY. Your verdict should be based on the facts of the case and
should not attempt to prove your individual effectiveness during the trial.
To convict Gaius Cassius Longinus of the crime of murder in the first degree, the prosecutor must have proved
each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
 That on or about the 15th day of March, Cassius killed Julius Caesar;
 That Cassius acted with intent to cause the death of Julius Caesar;
 That the intent to cause the death was premeditated;
 That Julius Caesar died as a result of Cassius’s acts; and
 That the evidence does not establish a defense of justifiable homicide.
If you find from the evidence that the prosecutor has proved each element beyond a reasonable doubt, then it
will be your duty to return a verdict of guilty to murder in the first degree. However, if you have a reasonable
doubt as to any one of these elements, then it will be your duty to return a verdict of not guilty to murder in the
first degree.
It is a defense to a charge of murder in the first degree that the homicide was justifiable. Homicide is justifiable
when committed in the lawful defense of the nation, when the defendant reasonably believes that the person
killed intends to destroy the Republic and that there is imminent danger of the Republic being destroyed.
Imminent has a different meaning than immediate. Imminent means ready to take place, near at hand, hanging
threateningly over one’s head, or menacingly near. Immediate means occurring, acting, or accomplished
without loss of time, or made or done at once. The statute requires only that the harm faced by the defendant
be imminent.
When you have completed your verdict statements, the Judge will review and declare the verdict to the Court.
Verdict Framework
Defendant: ____________________________________________
Plaintiff: _______________________________________________
Charge: ________________________________________________
The defendant, ____(name)________, is ____(guilty/innocent)_____ of ____(charge)______. I have reached this
conclusion based on the facts of the case as follows: ______(list and explain reasons for your decision in
paragraph form)________.
Verdict Rubric
Name: ______________________________________
Responsiveness
______/5 points
Evidence
and
Examples
______/20 points
Organization
______/5 points
5 points
The student
responds directly to
the assignment
question.
20 points
Multiple pieces of
evidence and/or
examples back up
each main point in
the response.
5 points
The response has a
logical organization
with a clear
structure that
enhances the
claim/verdict. The
purpose of each
paragraph is clear.
Analysis
20 points
The writing clearly
(Try not to simply
reflects a critical,
repeat or recite
analytical
back what you
understanding of
read/examine. You the text and of trial
should tell me what proceedings.
it all means and
Through clear
connect it as best as reasoning, the
possible in your own writer draws
words.)
sophisticated
inferences and
______/20 points
conclusions from
concrete details and
examples.
Total: __________/100 points
Red/Black
Block 1
4 points
The student
responds to the
majority of the
assignment
question.
15 points
One piece of
evidence and/or
example backs up
each main point in
the response.
3 points
The student
responds to a
portion of the
assignment
question.
10 points
Evidence and/or
examples are given
but not for each
main point in the
response.
4 points
The response has a
logical organization
that enhances the
claim. The purpose
of each paragraph
is clear but some
content may be
irrelevant or
inconsistent.
15 points
The writing
generally reflects a
critical, analytical
understanding of
the text and of trial
proceedings. The
inferences
demonstrate
interpretive ability
but could be
developed further
to better explain the
significance of the
details and
examples.
3 points
The response is not
especially logical or
organized. The
purpose of most
paragraphs is clear
but some content
may be irrelevant
or inconsistent.
10 points
The writing
demonstrates basic
comprehension but
not a critical,
analytical
understanding of
the text or trial. It
may lack a
developed claim or
have inconsistent or
unsubstantiated
interpretive analysis
to support the
claim.
2
3
4
2 points
The student does
not respond to the
assignment
question.
5 points
Little to no
evidence and/or
examples are used
to back up main
points in the
response.
2 points
The response has no
logical organization.
The purpose of
each paragraph is
unclear, and the
content is
irrelevant or
inconsistent.
5 points
The writing
demonstrates some
awareness of
details but not a
critical, analytical
understanding of
the text or trial. The
main points are
vague and there is
no claim or literary
analysis.