Court Systems and Practices
Court Systems and Practices is an overview of the federal and state court systems. The course identifies the roles of judicial officers and the trial processes from pretrial to sentencing and examines the types and rules of evidence. Emphasis is placed on constitutional laws for criminal procedures such as search and seizure, stop and frisk, and interrogation.
This binder does not contain all lesson plans for this course. This content can be used with any textbook or instructional materials. If locally adapted, make sure all TEKS are covered.
Resources
Scope and Sequence
Scope and Sequence: Court Systems and Practices
CTE TEKS - Implemented 2017-2018, adopted in 2015
Court Systems and Practices course scope and sequence within the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security Career Cluster® summarizes the content to be taught, and one possible order for teaching the units of instruction. A brief description of each unit and the corresponding TEKS are included. This scope and sequence may be adapted or adopted by the local education agency.
View ResourceProgram of Study
Program of Study: Lawyers and Arbitrators
Based on the House Bill 5 Foundation High School Program, the Lawyers and Arbitrators program of study within the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security Career Cluster® provides helpful information, including the core courses and career-related electives in high school that will help prepare students for their career goals. This document is designed for students, but can also be used by administrators, counselors, teachers, business and industry representatives, and parents.
Program of Study
Program of Study: Corrections Officer
Based on the House Bill 5 Foundation High School Program, the Corrections Officer program of study within the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security Career Cluster® provides helpful information, including the core courses and career-related electives in high school that will help prepare students for their career goals. This document is designed for students, but can also be used by administrators, counselors, teachers, business and industry representatives, and parents.
Unit 1: Professional Standards and Employability Skills
Lesson plans are currently not available. Review the scope and sequence document and TEKS.
Lesson plans are currently not available. Review the scope and sequence document, TEKS, and available lesson plans, to determine which additional lesson plans to locally develop.
You can download the optional blank lesson plan template provided here, to locally develop a new lesson plan, consistent with the others provided in the Texas CTE Resource Center.
If after developing a new lesson plan, you would like the TEA to consider adding it to the resource library for colleague teachers to also use in the future, attach the lesson plan and any supplemental instructional materials through the form here, for consideration. If published, we will attribute the materials to you.
View ResourceUnit 2: The U.S. Legal System
Lesson Plan: Criminal Justice System and the Courts
In this lesson, students trace the history of state and federal court systems and identify state and federal court systems.
View ResourceUnit 2: The U.S. Legal System
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - The Bill of Rights
In this lesson, students will understand the past and present battles in our courts that continually test the strength and longevity of our Bill of Rights.
View ResourceUnit 2: The U.S. Legal System
Lesson Plan: The Impact of Public Opinion and the Legislature on the Court System
In this lesson, students learn to Identify factors that influence the court system and describe real life cases that have been affected by these factors.
View ResourceUnit 2: The U.S. Legal System
Lesson Plan: Purposes of Law
This lesson provides the opportunity for students to examine the structure of the legal system in the United States.
View ResourceUnit 2: The U.S. Legal System
Lesson Plan: The Pre-Trial Process, the Grand Jury, and the Bail Process
In this lesson, students will outline the Pre-Trial Process, describe the importance of the Grand Jury, and discuss the bail process.
View ResourceUnit 2: The U.S. Legal System
Review the scope and sequence document. One or more lesson plans are currently not available.
One or more lesson plans are currently not available. Review the scope and sequence document, TEKS, and available lesson plans, to determine which additional lesson plans to locally develop.
You can download the optional blank lesson plan template provided here, to locally develop a new lesson plan, consistent with the others provided in the Texas CTE Resource Center.
If after developing a new lesson plan, you would like the TEA to consider adding it to the resource library for colleague teachers to also use in the future, attach the lesson plan and any supplemental instructional materials through the form here, for consideration. If published, we will attribute the materials to you.
View ResourceUnit 3: Roles and Responsibilities of Courtroom Work Groups
Lesson Plan: Courtroom Rules and Responsibilities
In this lesson, students will discuss the roles of individuals in the courtroom, common courtroom terms, and rules of the courtroom. Students will also participate in a short mock trial to practice their skills.
View ResourceUnit 3: Roles and Responsibilities of Courtroom Work Groups
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - The Victim and Defendant in the Trial Process
In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to explore the victim and defendant in the trial process through projects and case studies.
View ResourceUnit 3: Roles and Responsibilities of Courtroom Work Groups
Lesson Plan: Sentencing and Punishment
This lesson explores defendant's rights and describes pre sentencing and probation practices. Students will have the opportunity to construct reports and interact with other students through role playing scenarios.
View Resource
Unit 4: Courtroom Communication Skills
Lesson Plan: Courtroom Rules and Responsibilities
In this lesson, students will discuss the roles of individuals in the courtroom, common courtroom terms, and rules of the courtroom. Students will also participate in a short mock trial to practice their skills.
View ResourceUnit 4: Courtroom Communication Skills
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - Effective Verbal Communication
In this lesson, students will demonstrate communication skills required to evaluate body language such as gestures, verbal tone, and inflection during testimony needed for courtroom policies and procedures.
View ResourceUnit 4: Courtroom Communication Skills
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - Report Writing
The ability to write a good report can make or break a case. A report that a police officer writes in his squad car has the potential to make it to the United States Supreme Court. In this lesson, students will write a report on a burglary case scenario.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - Criminal Procedure
In this lesson, students will study the guidelines that impact the pretrial, trial, adjudication, and appeal processes, and understand the delicate relationships that impact these steps.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: The Pre-Trial Process, the Grand Jury, and the Bail Process
In this lesson, students will outline the Pre-Trial Process, describe the importance of the Grand Jury, and discuss the bail process.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Rules of Discovery and Privileged Communications
In this lesson, students will discuss the rules of discovery and privileged communication. Students will complete a case study activity in which they will apply the rules of discovery and privileged communication.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Motions and Challenges to Evidence
In this lesson, students will learn about the motions and objections that may be utilized by an attorney. Students will have the opportunity to write scenarios for the various objections, and will play a game to assist them in learning the motions.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Court Systems & Practices - Plea Bargaining
In the lesson, students will explore the process of plea bargaining through group projects and role play activities.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - Trial Evidence and the Burden of Proof
In this lesson, students will apply their understanding of the burden of proof in a criminal trial, and will apply their understanding of the types of evidence used in criminal trials.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - Mock Trials
In this lesson, students will demonstrate an understanding of the trial process by stepping into one of the roles in a mock trial.
View ResourceUnit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Sentencing and Punishment
This lesson explores defendant's rights and describes pre sentencing and probation practices. Students will have the opportunity to construct reports and interact with other students through role playing scenarios.
View Resource
Unit 5: Pre-Trial, Trial, Adjudication, and Appellate Stages
Lesson Plan: Appeal and Post Conviction Review
In this lesson, students learn about Appeal and Post conviction Review. Students also explore case studies of past appeals to take on the role of a defense attorney for their case.
View ResourceUnit 6: The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Lesson Plan: Court Systems and Practices - Impact of the 8th Amendment
In this lesson, students will explore the 8th Amendment and describe policies the lawmakers must follow. In groups, students will be given a project that will allow them to compare punishment in the United States to other countries.
View ResourceUnit 6: The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Lesson Plan: Entry Into the System - the Arrest
In this lesson, students will apply their understanding of the duties and responsibilities of law enforcement during arrests of suspects as required by established criminal procedure and case law. Students will participate in an activity in which they will assume the roles of "lawyers" and "clients" to practice identifying violations.
View ResourceUnit 6: The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Lesson Plan: Due Process
In this lesson students learn the structure and provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and how they impact the criminal trial process.
View ResourceUnit 6: The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Lesson Plan: Sentencing and Punishment
This lesson explores defendant's rights and describes pre sentencing and probation practices. Students will have the opportunity to construct reports and interact with other students through role playing scenarios.
View Resource
Unit 6: The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Review the scope and sequence document. One or more lesson plans are currently not available.
One or more lesson plans are currently not available. Review the scope and sequence document, TEKS, and available lesson plans, to determine which additional lesson plans to locally develop.
You can download the optional blank lesson plan template provided here, to locally develop a new lesson plan, consistent with the others provided in the Texas CTE Resource Center.
If after developing a new lesson plan, you would like the TEA to consider adding it to the resource library for colleague teachers to also use in the future, attach the lesson plan and any supplemental instructional materials through the form here, for consideration. If published, we will attribute the materials to you.
View Resource