Legal Processes in To Kill a Mockingbird (by: Harper Lee)

By: Julie Simansky, Cheyanne Wescott, Anna Basnight, & Shannon

Scarberry

Definition of ‘Legal Process’

The legal process are the proceedings in any civil lawsuit or prosecution and describes the formal notice used by a court to exercise jurisdiction over a person or their property. This is usually carried out upon a party, to bring that party to court, and make take the form of a summons, a mandate, subpoena, warrant, or other written demand of the court.

Examples

• Bob Ewell accused Tom Robinson of rape and filed his case in court (164)

• They called a witness, Mr. Heck Tate (221)• “If he loses his appeal,” I asked one evening,"

what'll happen to him?” “He’ll go to the chair” (219)

• Atticus and Mr. Gilmer cross examine the witness, Tom Robinson (254-265)

• The jury delivers Tom Robinson his sentence. (282)

Comparison

In real life you must file your complaint in court, just as Mr. Ewell did.

In the real court system, you may be forced to wait for your court date/sentencing, just as Tom Robinson had to wait.

The judge runs his court room informally, often propping up his feet or cleaning his nails with his knife. (220)

Comparison Continued

40 yrs in prison and/or fine in our legal system; book: death by electric chair.

In a real-world court settings, witnesses are cross examined by the prosecutor and defense attorney.

A real jury deliberates for as long as they need to until they come to a unanimous decision, then delivering that verdict to the judge and the defendant.

Citations

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_process

• The book To Kill a Mockingbird

• mscirigliano.com