Name:
Date:
Period:
To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 17-20
Tom Robinson’s Trial
In order to fully understand these chapters, it is helpful to understand the jargon, or specific vocabulary, used in court.
• In court, all people have the right to legal counsel (lawyers to represent them).
• The plaintiff is the person/group who brings a case against another in court. They accuse them of something.
o Their lawyer is the prosecuting attorney. All together, this group is known as the prosecution.
• The defendant is the person/group being accused of something. They are defending themselves from
punishment.
o Their lawyer is the defense attorney. All together, this group is known as the defense.
• During court, a judge presides over the courtroom proceedings.
o First, they ask the defendant how they plead: guilty or not guilty.
• The attorneys give opening arguments to the jury, a panel of people who decide the verdict (outcome) of the
case.
• The bulk of a courtroom trial is examination and cross-examination of witnesses, people who saw or have
information regarding the crime.
• At the end of examinations, attorneys give closing arguments.
Identify the following people’s names and information for the Tom Robinson case.
Judge: Judge Taylor
Court Reporter: Bert
Prosecution:
Plaintiff: Mayella Ewell
Prosecuting attorney: Mr. Gilmer
What crime is the plaintiff claiming the defendant
committed?
Mayella is accusing Tom Robinson of
raping her.
Defense:
Defendant: Tom Robinson
Defense attorney: Atticus Finch
What is the defendant’s alibi (reason he could not
commit the crime)?
His left arm is not functional. He could
not have strangled or beat Mayella on the right side of her face.
Witnesses:
1) Heck Tate 2) Bob Ewell
3) Mayella Ewell 4) Tom Robinson
