The Clerc Center
Connection

Team 9 Holds Mock Trial:

Judge Convicts Doctor for Experimenting with Human Embryos

Peering through the camcorder viewfinder, I could feel the eyes in the courtroom focused on the judge. Regal in his long black gown, he began with the first count, “Illegal use of human multipotent stem cells.” Attention quickly turned to the foreperson of the jury ...her right hand rose from her waist, gently placing the letter “G” over her heart. “Guilty,” Judge Mendelsohn repeated.

Judge Mendelsohn stood peering at the defendant in disgust for his mistreatment of human embryos. He quickly reviewed the four charges with the jury and dealt punishment. “One point six million dollars for count number one,” as well as a series of jail terms for the other two guilty charges, his hands cut through the air with pride and confidence.

I looked around the courtroom and watched as my colleagues waited for the final punishment. Then I looked at my students—they were on the edge of their seats, as focused as I could ever hope a group of 30 teenagers could be. These were my students and I was proud of them. Team 9 had just completed a mock trial based on their thematic unit on human cloning and bioethics. The case relates to experimenting on human embryos beyond what is legally permitted.

Team 9 student Thomas Ssebyuma’s illustration of the court scene

Having documented and found enough evidence to continue past the legal and permissible guidelines, Dr. Suess of Allied Science Incorporated allowed cloned human embryos to develop past 14 days, the legal limit laid down by the federal government of MSSD. His co-worker Dr. Smith warned that he was breaking the law. She was ultimately relieved of her position. In cooperation with the federal government of MSSD, she then filed two suits against Dr. Suess, one criminal for his violation of federal guidelines and the other civil, for wrongful firing of an employee with an impeccable track record.

Our prosecution and defense teams battled it out in court. The trial was presided by Josh Mendelsohn, a lawyer for the Department of Justice who oversees cases regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act. The two teams called witnesses, that they had briefed themselves and harshly cross-examined the other team’s witnesses. The entire courtroom was filled with students: the bailiff, jury, witnesses, court reporters, and artists as well as a camera man. The only “hang-up” during the court proceeding was the well-timed fire alarm, just before jury deliberation.

To prepare for the trial, the students studied cell division and the scientific advances that make cloning a real and frightening possibility. We wrapped up our month and a half of background investigations with group discussions on some of the pros and the cons on the ethical issues surrounding cloning.

This activity gave the students a chance to debate their own views as well as experience many different viewpoints. These various perspectives helped our students rethink their preconceived notions on the subject. Our students experienced both the seriousness of science and the expansiveness of the law while developing opinions about the world around them.

The mock trial idea came from our lead teacher, Heather Jilao, and our social studies teacher, Jim Perry, but it quickly became a team effort with Dale Ford, our transition specialist, and Janie Baldi, English teacher, who managed the background work and made sure that things ran smoothly. Thanks to Team 9 for a great community effort!