Procedures 

Option 1: 

  1. Give students the case facts, issue, constitutional provisions, statutes, precedents, and arguments—but not the final decision. 
  2. Divide the class in half. Assign one half to write an opinion assuming the petitioner wins the case and the other half to write an opinion assuming the respondent wins the case.   
  3. Students are encouraged to reference the case facts but must go further by applying constitutional provisions, statutes, and precedents to provide a reasoned, well-supported basis for their opinions. 

Option 2: 

  1. Give students the case facts, issue, constitutional provisions, statutes, precedents and arguments—but not the final decision. 
  2. Instruct students to consider and apply any constitutional provisions, statutes, and precedents to the case and to carefully consider all the arguments.  
  3. Students should then decide if they will find for the petitioner, and reverse the decision of the lower court, OR for the respondent, and uphold or affirm the lower court’s decision.  
  4. Finally, students should assume the majority of justices agree with them and write the Court’s majority opinion explaining the reasons for the decision.  

For more detailed instructions, see Lesson 7: Judicial Opinion Writing in the Classroom Guide to Moot Courts. This resource is available to download for free from Street Law’s Resource Library.