Stanford Mock Trial Performs for Chinese Television

July, 2005

"This case is about holding a bar owner responsible for the actions of her bouncers. " Thus began the opening statement for the Plaintiff and Stanford Mock Trial's first apperance on international television. Changsa (Chinese Public Television) filmed the Stanford Law School Mock Trial Program as part of a mini-series exploring the American Jury System. Team members Joe Ross, Ryan Brumberg, Rae Woods, and Olga Kuskova played roles in the television documentary.

The program, which will air in the fall in selected provinces of China, is a mini-series about how the American jury system functions. The jury system is unfamiliar to most Chinese citizens, and the TV program hoped to inform them about the relatively unique institution of civil jury trials.

As part of the program, Stanford Law School put on an abbreviated civil trial, based roughly on the 2005 ATLA STAC fact pattern. The plaintiff hoped to show that he had been beaten severely by bouncers at a bar. The defendent claimed that the plaintiff had attempted to pick a fight with the bouncers, took a swing, and hit his head on the pavement as he fell. The team presented opening and closing arguments, called witnesses, and argued objections for the cameras.

Team members were extremely enthusiastic about their TV debuts. They reported that the TV producers were extremely friendly and well-informed about the subject of their documentary. The producers were also kind enough to give traditional Chinese gifts as a "thank you" to Stanford Law School Mock Trial. The US Department of State will arrange for a copy of the program to be forwarded to Stanford Law School.

The Stanford Law School Mock Trial Program is committed to furthering education about trial work and spreading the reputation of Stanford Law School for exceptional trial advocacy.

Contact: Rae Woods
Contact Email: rae.woods@stanford.edu
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