Understanding sexual violence:
Prosecuting adult rape and sexual assault cases
Tab 3: State V. Michael Cates
Case evaluation and ethical consideration
Case evaluation
Case File: State V. Michael Cates available at http://www.vaw.umn.edu/documents/usvpros/pbinder/tab03/casefile.pdf. This is a .pdf file and you will need Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer in order to open it.
Directions: Participants are divided in half. Based on the information in the case file, half the room is assigned to argue the strengths of the case and half to argue the weaknesses.
Use this worksheet to note your assessment of the case, depending on your assignment. Then discuss the case at your table preparatory to a report back and group discussion. Allow 10 minutes for this portion of the exercise.
The reporter is the person at the table whose last name begins with Z or the letter closest to it. If you are the reporter, please use the back of this sheet to take notes during your table’s discussion and to prepare for the report back to the full group. Allow 20 minutes for the report back.
| STRENGTHS | WEAKNESSES |
Directions: Take five minutes to jot down your responses to these questions. The prosecutor presenter will ask participants for their answers. Allow 25 minutes for this discussion.
The Resource Book materials relevant to this section are listed below:
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