Activity 1: Go to Court TV's video section (www.courttv.com/video/archive/). Choose a video. At what event was the video recorded (Trial testimony? Verdict? Confession?) Based on the verdict, what effect did the testimony have on the fact finder? If there was no trial, what effect did the videoed event have on other decision-makers, for example the police or prosecutors?
Activity 2: Go to Court TV's news section (www.courttv.com/home_news/). Locate a current case. Is the action civil or criminal? Who is prosecuting it? If criminal, could it result in an additional civil case? Who would the plaintiff(s) be? If civil, could it result in an additional criminal case? If so, which governmental agency would prosecute?
Activity 3: Go to the smoking gun site and locate an article from its archives. What would the subject of the article have to prove in order to win a claim of defamation? Be sure to discuss both the elements of the cause of action and defenses. www.thesmokinggun.com/
