Easy Moot Court Oral Argument Assignment

People of Colorado v. Rick Range

The People of Colorado charged Rick Range with three counts of animal cruelty (non-aggravated).

At Rick Range’s bench trial, held on Thursday 17 July 20XX, the following facts were admitted into
evidence during the People of Colorado’s case-in-chief:

Rick Range is an avid outdoorsman and fan of the TV show "Man v. Wild." He also
volunteers as a local Cub-scout leader in Greeley, Colorado. The Cub-scouts is an
organization for young boys. At weekly meetings, troops of young boys – aged six to nine –
learn how to be good persons, citizens, and learn some basic skills for surviving in the
outdoors. They are instructed by their Cub-scout leader in these skills.

On 5 April 20XX, Mr. Range, as Cub-scout leader took his troop on a weekend camping and
wilderness training outing. They camped on a friend's farm adjacent to nearby woods.

Mr. Range taught his Cub-scouts how to build rabbit traps. By Saturday afternoon they had
caught three rabbits. Mr. Range then demonstrated how to kill, skin, and cook the rabbits.

However, Mr. Range had never actually killed and skinned a rabbit before, though he had
seen many demonstrations online. He stabbed the first rabbit several times in various places
on its body. It did not die. Eventually, he swung the rabbit by its hind legs bashing its head on
a rock, thus killing it. This whole process took about four minutes. Having learned from his
mistake, Mr. Range dispatched the second and third rabbits with a quick and effective slice to
the neck. After skinning and cooking the rabbits, the boys ate them.

Some of the cub scouts were quite traumatized by the event. One has since quit scouts and is
undergoing psychiatric counseling. His parents complained to the Cub-scouts national
organization and to the local prosecutor.

At the close of the People of Colorado’s case-in-chief, Mr. Range has moved for a judgment of
acquittal. On Thursday July 17, 20XX, you will argue this motion before the court. Prior to doing so
you must research Colorado statutory law as well as the case law in Colorado and elsewhere. In
addition to arguing from the statutory language or canons of statutory construction, you should also be
prepared to discuss your best 3 cases.