Marquette law students get real-time lesson in Kyle Rittenhouse trial
"We're able to turn the TV on and see everything we’re taught first few years of law school go into practice," one student said.
"We're able to turn the TV on and see everything we’re taught first few years of law school go into practice," one student said.
"We're able to turn the TV on and see everything we’re taught first few years of law school go into practice," one student said.
The Kyle Rittenhouse trial continues to unfold in the courtroom, and also in the classroom.
Marquette University law students have a front-row seat and unique learning opportunity for a major trial right in their backyard.
"The students have had the benefit of learning something about the closing arguments, as well as the jury instructions, and also seeing this jury has been struggling with these issues now for two days, that the whole idea of self-defense is anything but straightforward," Professor Dan Blinka said.
WISN 12 sat in on a criminal practice course for third-year students taught by Blinka and Craig Mastantuono.
The class is designed for third-year law students.
Half of the students are interested in careers as criminal prosecutors, the other half are defenders.
Students said it's an opportunity to see the tools they learn in motion.
"I think the most interesting thing is watching the strategy unfold," Kathleen Kruse said. "Because the trial has been so long, the way that the strategy has changed, and the different pieces of evidence that have become important over time."
The Rittenhouse shooting and trial that ensued has been going on for nearly half of these students' law school careers.
"So to see it sort of unfold and see all of the different fundamentals of criminal law show up in this trial was really important to us," student Ali Mahmood said. "It's one thing to learn about all these legal practices in school and from our textbooks, but it’s another thing to see it kind of happening in real time."
Classmate Brandon Carlson agreed.
"We learn the different pieces of the law, we learn important aspects of the law but we don't see it put together," he said. "And I think for me the coolest part about seeing this unfold is seeing all those pieces put together in practice."
Carlson also said the class learned a lot of "dos and don'ts."
One of the don'ts involved the clash between the Judge and the prosecutor.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger was accused of an improper line of questioning when Rittenhouse was on the stand.
Judge Bruce Schroeder yelled at Binger when he brought up inadmissible evidence in front of the jury.
It's something these law students know to never do.
"So far, the trial's definitely been an example of what not to do as prosecutor," student Ian Barron said.
"Obviously, we're not practicing attorneys yet but I think all of us can say we know not to do that," classmate Daniel Gaughan said. "That's pretty much the one thing you cannot say in front of the jury."
Others said it's a great experience to be able to discuss the trial in class.
"We get to pick the brains of our professors," Erin Drahozal said. "They can kind of take us through more behind-the-scenes stuff that a lot of the public isn’t really seeing."
Blinka said the trial utilizes nearly every tool the students learn, creating an ideal real-time learning experience.