Mock Trial Recap and Response

1. For the sexual harassement case I agree with the outcome of the trial. "Kevin Murphy" made many comments and did many actions of a sexual nature that made Elise very uncomfortable and sexually harassed. I believe that the result of this case was just and deserved no one no matter how productive they may be in the office is exempt from punishment for sexual harassement. Even though he claimed it was all "in good fun" it was still taken as hostile by Elise and there for I agree with the outcome of the case. The most compelling facts of this case are that both Kevin and Elise recognize that all of the statements and actions occured. This was enought evidence to convict, the defense did not really make a good argument defending Kevin all they did was try to establish that Elise's transfer was due to her work ethic not a demotion. A: that really had nothing to do with defending Kevin's actions. The most informative facts were that no one in the work place assisted Elise, her supervisor knew what was going on, but looked the other way because Kevin was a good lawyer. In order for me to think that the case deserved an opposite outcome, the defense would have had to prove that Elise was filing a law suit out of spite or jealousy. In the instance of "David Jones" vs. "Susan Williams" I totally disagree with the outcome of the trial. It was a very simple and clear cut  case. Susan said no and David disregarded her wishes and date raped her. No means no, no matter how it is said it still means the same thing. The most informative facts were that in the testimonies of both Susan and David they said that Susan had said no when David first tried to have sex with her. That is all that is needed because she said no and rape is when one party does not consent to sexual intercourse. In order to get an opposite outcome the jury would have had to realize that he was not going away for life, just a small amount of time. They said the only reason they said not guilty was because they thought he was going to get a life sentence for this one tragic mistake.
2. I believe that both of these issues are very serious cases. Date rape and sexual harassment are actions that have long standing consequences to both parties. With sexual harassment it could make it so someone does not want to come to work or out of their house, leaving them socially crippled. While Date rape have both physical and emotional consequence. The raped could suffer from serious trauma because of the one incident. People really need to know that neither of these things are okay. It is mainly a male issue towards woman, so men really need to learn/be taught respect and impulse control so that both of these situations can be prevented. At Deerfield High School I have never heard of an incident with date rape or rape so I do not believe that it is a problem here. But with sexual harassment I have no doubt that it goes one. But not to the extent of creating a hostile environment. To the extent of one or two comments about someone or a lude gesture. Nothing really serious in nature occurs on a daily basis here at DHS.