We The Jury - A Game About Being a Juror

iCivics has just released its seventeenth educational game for students. The new game is called We The Jury. We The Jury puts students in the role of a juror for two trials.

In We The Jury students choose to be one of six jurors at a trial. Students then hear the facts of the case, hear closing arguments from the plaintiff and the defendant, and then go off to deliberate in the jury room. Students can deliberate for up to five days before handing down the verdict. During deliberations students examine evidence, listen to the opinions of other jurors, and try to reach a unanimous decision. Throughout the process students are reminded of the roles of jurors and to stick to only the evidence and arguments permitted by the judge.

Students who register for a free iCivics account can pause the game and come back to it at a later time. Click here for a list of all of the games offered by iCivics. 

Applications for Education
Playing We The Jury could be a great way for students to learn about what happens behind closed doors when a jury goes out to deliberate. All of the other iCivics games have curriculum units connected to them. We The Jury does not have a curriculum unit connected to it yet, but I bet that it will in the near future.