State and Local Government
Session 9 and 10: Court Procedure

Materials

• Chart paper
• Markers
• Transparency: “When a Person Is Accused of a Felony” (Attachment H)

Instructional Activities

1. Explain that courts resolve two kinds of legal conflicts—civil and criminal. Ask students for examples of both types of law.
   Criminal law: In a criminal case, a court determines whether a person accused of breaking the law is guilty or not guilty of a misdemeanor or a felony.
   Civil law: In a civil case, a court settles a disagreement between two parties.

2. Display a transparency (Attachment H) of the criminal procedure in the Virginia court system.
   
   
3. Distribute paper and markers. Tell students that they are going to make an illustrated flow chart showing the steps in criminal courtroom procedure.
   
   
4. Discuss each step in the procedure listed on the transparency. Pay particular attention to unfamiliar vocabulary. Allow time after each section for students to write the information on the paper. (Explain that you will allow time to illustrate the flow chart tomorrow.)
   
   
5. Ask students to illustrate each step in the process described above. Provide time for students to show their illustrated charts and discuss one of the steps. Display charts on the bulletin board and the classroom walls until the assessment to reinforce the content.