MAKING A DIFFERENCE : One Foundation’s Approach: The Rodney King Case as Legal Education

Even aside from the violence that wracked Southern California after the verdict in the first Rodney King beating trial, few cases have spurred as much public debate about justice in our society. But how often is that debate grounded in a solid understanding of the justice system? That sort of question prompted a respected group of legal educators to turn the trial record into a tool for legal education and discussion of volatile social issues.

“Reviewing the Verdict: Issues of Police, Justice and Change” offers the first account of the landmark events surrounding the case prepared as a learning tool for young people. Researched and published by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, a national leader in law-related education for more than 30 years, the program is designed to promote nonviolent, informed student response to the legal, constitutional, social and political issues raised by the controversial trial, verdict and aftermath. The materials are being used in 1,000 Southern California schools and another 1,000 schools across the nation. A 46-page student book includes readings and exercises that examine the case and related legal doctrines and explore issues from the perspectives of the prosecution, defense, judge, jury, citizenry, police and media. A video presents a discussion with attorneys who tried the case and a 14-page instructor’s guide suggests a framework for managing classroom discussion.

SAMPLE OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Readings, video presentations and directed group discussions about:

* Events leading to the beating and arrest of Rodney King.

* George Holliday’s videotape recording and its interpretations.

* Doctrine of reasonable doubt and prosecutors’ burden of proof.

* Controversies over Los Angeles Police Department tactics and use of deadly force.

* Jury selection and change of venue process.

* Public and editorial opinion after the verdict.

ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISES

* As police officers applying use-of-force options to hypothetical field situations.

* As judge, prosecutor and defense lawyers designing questions to ask hypothetical prospective jurors.

* As a television news editor deciding coverage of a hypothetical controversial case.

* As an appellate court judge who has to determine whether a change of venue should be granted in a sample historical case.

NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT ASSIGNMENTS

* Interview police officers and attorneys to learn about the reasonable force policies applied in local communities.

* Survey neighborhood to investigate public perceptions of police-community relations.

GROUND RULES FOR DISCUSSIONS

Participants agree to:

* Argue ideas, not personalities

* Represent opposing positions fairly and accurately

* Hear, examine and try to understand perspectives other than their own

* Admit doubts and weaknesses in their own position

* Base arguments on evidence

SOME QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION

* Do citizens have enough information about how the criminal justice system works to make informed decisions about it?

* Do the police treat people of color more harshly than other citizens?

* How should police power to enforce society’s laws be balanced with citizens’ rights?

* Do courts dispense equal justice or do their procedures and decisions have unjust or racist result?

* How does our justice system function in an age of mass electronic media, instant analysis and political turmoil?

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For information about “Reviewing the Verdict: Issues of the Police, Justice, Change,” related educational materials or other programs contact the Constitutional Rights Foundation, at 601 S. Kingsley Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90005 or phone (213) 487-5590.

Compiled by Times Researcher CATHERINE GOTTLIEB