World History

Mr. McNamara/Mr. McGarry

Age of Exploration
Discovery Debate- Bailiff/Judge/Jury Script

BAILIFF: All rise!

Everyone stands.
The judge enters the room from the hall and seats him/herself
at the bench.

BAILIFF: Court is now in session. The honorable Judge (First and Last
Name) presiding. You may now be seated.

Everyone sits down.

JUDGE: Good morning/afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

today you are here to decide for us who is the true discoverer of
America, Leif Erikson or Christopher Columbus. Base your opinion only
on the testimony and evidence that you see and hear in this court
today. Representatives for Mr. Columbus are you ready to begin?

COLUMBUS TEAM: Yes, your honor.

JUDGE: Representatives for Mr. Erikson are you ready to begin?

ERIKSON TEAM: Yes, your honor.

JUDGE: Very well. Could I please have the 1st affirmative statement for
Mr. Columbus?

(1.) Columbus team member gives their opening argument to

the jury, then sits down.

ONE MINUTE BREAK.

(2.) JUDGE: Mr. Columbus, please approach the witness stand.

Christopher Columbus comes up to the witness stand and a

bailiff swears him in using a history textbook. The bailiff holds
up the book and Columbus puts his left hand on the book and
raises his right hand up by his side.

BAILIFF: Mr. Columbus, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help you God/under pain and penalty of
perjury?
COLUMBUS: I do.

Columbus sits down and is questioned by the Erikson legal

team. Once Columbus is done being questioned the judge
excuses him from the witness stand.

ONE MINUTE BREAK.

JUDGE: Could I please have the 1st affirmative statement for Mr.
Erikson?

(3.) Erikson team member gives their opening argument to the

jury, then sits down.

ONE MINUTE BREAK.

(4.) JUDGE: Mr. Erikson, please approach the witness stand.

Leif Erikson comes up to the witness stand and a bailiff swears

him in using a history textbook. The bailiff holds up the book
and Erikson puts his left hand on the book and raises his right
hand up by his side.

BAILIFF: Mr. Erikson, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, so help you God/under pain and penalty of
perjury?

ERIKSON: I do.

Erikson sits down and is questioned by the Columbus legal

team. Once Erikson is done being questioned the judge
excuses him from the witness stand.

ONE MINUTE BREAK.

JUDGE: Could I have the Columbus team please make your final
statement to the court.

(5.) The Columbus team gives their closing argument to the

jury.

ONE MINUTE BREAK

JUDGE: Could I have the Erikson team please make your final
statement to the court.
(6.) The Erikson team gives their closing argument to the jury.

JUDGE: At this time I am going to instruct one of my bailiffs to escort

the jurors out into the hall to deliberate and make the final
determination as to who is the true discoverer of America.

Bailiff escorts jurors out into hall as TRIAL RECORD is printed

out and given to jurors. Once jurors have made their decision,
bailiff will escort jurors back into courtroom to read the
verdict.

JUDGE: Mr. Foreman, have you reached a verdict?

JURY FOREMAN: We have your honor. We the members of the jury

declare that (Columbus/Erikson) is the true discoverer of America.

JUDGE: Members of the jury, thank you for your service. Court is
adjourned.

Judge bangs gavel.