Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Before 2021, Julius Jones sat on death row in Oklahoma, awaiting his execution for a crime he says he didn't commit. Jurors, many suspected of racial bias, convicted him on charges of murder.
Introduction
How can we use evidence, logic, and reasoning to determine the truth? Working in teams, we'll dive into Jones's trial and the testimony presented. With the guidance of real attorneys, we'll develop a convincing case. You'll get a sense of the challenges of fighting for justice as you learn how the legal system works. We'll explore historical cases of wrongful convictions during the Cold War and how bias, lazy reasoning, and lack of data affected innocent people. We'll use what we learn to determine the extent to which Julius Jones had a fair trial.
Essential Questions
-
Is America a land of opportunity?
-
What does freedom mean? Has the world made “progress?” Why or why not? How is persuasive language effective? How can it make or break a case?
-
How can we use evidence and logical reasoning to determine the truth about legal convictions?
Learning Objectives
-
Analyze historical misuse of data, evidence, and reasoning.
-
Use different kinds of evidence and logical reasoning to defend a claim.
-
Evaluate how best to build an argument based on persuasion.
-
Understand the origin, goals, and current issues of the U.S. criminal justice system.