Federal Criminal Pre-Trial and Trial Practice

This course will focus on federal criminal proceedings and introduce students to the stages of a federal prosecution by following a case from indictment through trial. The course will provide an overview of the major phases of a federal case including: (1) the use of the grand jury, indictments, discovery, and bond motions; (2) common pretrial motions such as discovery, dismissal, suppression, and in limine; (3) trial practice including voir dire, jury selection, jury instructions, direct and cross examination of witnesses, handling courtroom evidence, making effective objections, and opening and closing statements; and finally (4) an overview of sentencing and the federal appeal process. Students will be expected to participate in weekly classroom discussions, engage in regular practical exercises, and draft pre-trial litigation materials. Considering the interests of both the government and the defendant, students will explore the practical, strategic, and ethical decisions facing criminal law litigators, and while focused on criminal proceedings, this class will teach advocacy and trial skills that translate into other practice areas as students gather experience and gain an understanding of the demands of trial work. The course will be taught by experienced attorneys from both the prosecution and defense perspectives.