Mock Trial Post State v Mann. (state/law POV)

 The class was presented with a mock trial in which two teams were to play out a prominent trial in U.S. history, State v Mann. My team was awarded with the role of state. The two teams of six gave a role to each member of each team, they were instructed to argue one of six points,

Historical context/ overview (intro to trial), Religion/morality, Ethics, Norms/customs/traditions, history, and most importantly what I was assigned with, law. 

To give some context of each, this trial was about a man named John Mann, a poor white man, who rented a slave from a wealthy slave owner, so he could have someone do his work for some time. This slave was named Lydia, she did normal slave things such as house work and yard work, she cleaned, served, and did labor for her time under John Mann. One day she was being whipped, and attempted to escape her whipping, she was then shot by John Mann. He was charged with assault and battery. This case was brought to court where Mann was indicted on these assault and battery charges, the court found his actions cruel and unwarrantable. John then appealed this ruling to the North Carolina supreme court, where we were instructed to act out.

Each team gave great arguments but the ruling of the case ultimately came down to law. I focused heavily on the fact that John Mann was not the owner of this slave, he rented her from her actual owner for the purpose of labor, she was merely a worker for this time, therefore he cannot commit any horrid acts against the "slave" because that's not what she is under his supervision, she is considered a worker. I piggy backed on the ethics argument that my team made, which was that not only was this a worker, this was a human, someone who bleeds the same color blood as the man who committed this violent act. A human who produces thoughts, emotions, sweat, and tears, similar to every other human on earth. The opposing council had a strong emphasis on their religion point of view in counter to our ethics, that the Bible encouraged slavery. They pointed out multiple passages in the Bible that christians followed which spoke in favor of slavery, these passages were preached in white churches, taught to white children, and became an excuse for white customs. They argued that how could slavery be so bad if it was considered religious. Opposing council also had a strong emphasis on their law side, which stated that as much as empathy and ethics play a big role, the law was that a slave is considered property, and that a slave owner can do as he or she pleases to her slave, including violent acts. 

The ultimate ruling of the court was the same as it played out in real life.. in favor of John Mann, he was let free and cleared of charges. Both teams had a lot of fun and enjoyed the mock trial as well as judge smith and the rest of the class.