my cousin vinny assignment

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My Cousin Vinny 1992

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8 Trial Steps in the “My Cousin Vinny” Film Essay

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Every trial has specific stages necessary for the effective investigation of the case. They can be analyzed by using the movie My cousin Vinny . Thus, the selection of the jury is the choice of people who will serve on a jury during the process (Melsheimer & Smith, 2017). This process is not shown in the movie as viewers see the trial itself. The next phase is opening statements by the prosecution and defense, which allows both parties to address the jury (Melsheimer & Smith, 2017). In the film, prosecutor Trotter and Vinny Gambini’s initial words can be viewed as this stage (Lynn, 1992). Presentation of the prosecution’s evidence and witness is the phase when the major arguments are presented to the jury (Melsheimer & Smith, 2017). Prosecutor Trotter asks the eyewitness who saw the crime through the window is an example of how this stage occurs in the trial.

Presentation of the defense evidence and witness is another stage of the trial process. It allows the defense to present its arguments. Thus, Gambini’s refusal to accept Bill and Stan’s guilt and outlining the main witness can be an example of this stage (Lynn, 1992). At the same time, the defenders present the rebuttal witness, asking Lisa to speak about tire marks and refute the arguments provided by the prosecution (Lynn, 1992). It helps to introduce a new perspective on the case. Closing arguments by each side is the final address to the jury summarizing the evidence of all parties. In the discussed movie, the closing arguments are presented by the sheriff, who outlines that the car and the gun were found in another place (Lynn, 1992). The instruction of the jury by the judge phase implies that the jury is informed about relevant laws. In the film, this phase is not shown, and the viewers see the final decision by the jury, which implies dismissing all charges.

Lynn, J. (1992). My cousin Vinny [Film]. 20 th Century Fox.

Melsheimer, T., & Smith, C. (2017). On the jury trial: Principles and practices for effective advocac y. University of North Texas Press.

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IvyPanda. (2023, December 7). 8 Trial Steps in the "My Cousin Vinny" Film. https://ivypanda.com/essays/8-trial-steps-in-the-my-cousin-vinny-film/

"8 Trial Steps in the "My Cousin Vinny" Film." IvyPanda , 7 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/8-trial-steps-in-the-my-cousin-vinny-film/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '8 Trial Steps in the "My Cousin Vinny" Film'. 7 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "8 Trial Steps in the "My Cousin Vinny" Film." December 7, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/8-trial-steps-in-the-my-cousin-vinny-film/.

1. IvyPanda . "8 Trial Steps in the "My Cousin Vinny" Film." December 7, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/8-trial-steps-in-the-my-cousin-vinny-film/.

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IvyPanda . "8 Trial Steps in the "My Cousin Vinny" Film." December 7, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/8-trial-steps-in-the-my-cousin-vinny-film/.

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

My Cousin Vinny

Two New Yorkers accused of murder in rural Alabama while on their way back to college call in the help of one of their cousins, a loudmouth lawyer with no trial experience. Two New Yorkers accused of murder in rural Alabama while on their way back to college call in the help of one of their cousins, a loudmouth lawyer with no trial experience. Two New Yorkers accused of murder in rural Alabama while on their way back to college call in the help of one of their cousins, a loudmouth lawyer with no trial experience.

• Jonathan Lynn
• Dale Launer
• Marisa Tomei
• Ralph Macchio
• 346 User reviews
• 53 Critic reviews
• 68 Metascore
• 5 wins & 6 nominations total

Top cast 31

• Vinny Gambini

• Mona Lisa Vito

• Bill Gambini

• Stan Rothenstein

• Judge Chamberlain Haller

• Jim Trotter III

• John Gibbons

• Sheriff Farley

• Constance Riley
• (as Pauline Meyers)

• Ernie Crane

• George Wilbur

• Jimmy Willis
• Man in Town Square

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia The misunderstanding between Vincent Gambini and Judge Haller regarding the two "youts" was in fact a real conversation between Joe Pesci and director Jonathan Lynn . Lynn, who is English, at first had a hard time understanding Pesci's pronounced New York accent. He decided that the routine was quite funny and put it in the film.
• Goofs While judges do make errors once in awhile, it is practically impossible that any judge would overrule Vinny's objection to George Wilbur's testimony. To do so would almost certainly cause a conviction to be overturned at the appellate level.

Mona Lisa Vito : You're goin' hunting?

Vinny Gambini : That's right.

Mona Lisa Vito : Why are you going hunting? Shouldn't you be out preparing for court?

Vinny Gambini : I was thinking last night. If only I knew what he knows, you know? If he'd let me look at his files; oh boy.

Mona Lisa Vito : I don't get it. What does getting to Trotter's files have anything to do with hunting?

Vinny Gambini : Well, you know, two guys, out in the woods, guns, on the hunt. It's a bonding thing, you know; show him I'm one of the boys. He's not gonna let me look at his files, but maybe he'll relax enough to drop his guard so I can finesse a little information out of him.

[Vinny searches through his clothes]

Vinny Gambini : What am I gonna wear?

Mona Lisa Vito : What are ya gonna hunt?

Vinny Gambini : I don't know. He's got a lot of stuffed heads in his office.

Mona Lisa Vito : Heads?

[Vinny looks up at Lisa]

Mona Lisa Vito : What kinda heads?

Vinny Gambini : I don't know, he's got a boar, a bear, a couple of deer.

Mona Lisa Vito : Whoa. You're gonna shoot a deer?

Vinny Gambini : I don't know. I suppose. I mean, I'm a man's man, I could go deer hunting.

Mona Lisa Vito : A sweet, innocent, harmless, leaf-eating, doe-eyed little deer.

Vinny Gambini : Hey Lisa, I'm not gonna go out there just to wimp out, you know. I mean, the guy will lose respect for me, would you rather have that?

[Lisa gets up, walks over to the bathroom and shuts the door]

Vinny Gambini : What about these pants I got on, you think they're O.K.?

[Vinny looks down]

Vinny Gambini : Oh!

Mona Lisa Vito : [comes out of the bathroom] Imagine you're a deer. You're prancing along, you get thirsty, you spot a little brook, you put your little deer lips down to the cool clear water... BAM! A fuckin bullet rips off part of your head! Your brains are laying on the ground in little bloody pieces! Now I ask ya. Would you give a fuck what kind of pants the son of a bitch who shot you was wearing?

• Alternate versions One version that aired on television omitted the entire subplot of Vinny making a deal with a pool player, and the scene where Vinny finds out there is a slaughterhouse next to one motel they stay in. References that Vinny makes to both these elements are cut out from his rant to Lisa about all the trouble he's going through for his court case.
• Connections Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Breakthrough Stars of 1992 (1992)
• Soundtracks Way Down South Written by Edgar Winter Performed by The Fabulous Thunderbirds Produced by Barry Beckett for Beckett Productions Courtesy of Epic Associated Records

User reviews 346

• Feb 22, 2013
• What does "voir dire" mean?
• When the DA asks the prospective juror if she could vote to sentence someone to death, and she replies: "Fry 'em", why didn't Vinny use a peremptory (sic) challenge to to have her disqualified?
• Why did the defense attorney, John Gibbons stutter? Was he drunk or just nervous?
• March 13, 1992 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Mi primo Vinny
• Eatonton, Georgia, USA (General Putnam Motel)
• Twentieth Century Fox
• Peter V. Miller Investment Corp.
• Dale Launer Production
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $11,000,000 (estimated)
• $52,929,168
• Mar 15, 1992
• $64,088,552

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours
• Dolby Stereo

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Intro to Criminal Justice – My Cousin Vinny Assignment

Running head: MY COUSIN VINNY My Cousin Vinny Tracy Brown Florida Institute of Technology My Cousin Vinny This week we were asked to watch a movie called My Cousin Vinny and compare this to the actual Criminal Justice System. I want to start off by saying the portrayal of the Criminal Justice System was much different than what we see it in real life. I really enjoyed the comedy that was displayed around it. The movie was based around two teenagers who were suspected of murdering a gas station attendant. This movie takes place in Alabama. The first similarity I noticed is that the movie depicted the due process model.

In which they were allowed a complete trial to determine true guilt. It seemed as though the sheriff’s office had already determined these two guys guilt prior to the trial. For instance during the interrogation they never told them what they were suspected of doing until Bill admitted to the charges. In reality he was suspected of murdering the gas station attendant when all he truly did was steal a can of tuna. Another thing that they did which followed the Criminal Justice system is the officers made sure they were aware of their rights.

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I never actually saw them being merandized but they were asked if they knew their rights prior to the interrogation. During the initial investigation they were never made aware of the charges they were being suspected of where in the true legal system they should have been told. A police lineup is done so that the witnesses can identify whom they saw making the attack. This is also done during the initial investigation so the District Attorney can build their case against the suspects. The next part in the criminal justice system they addressed is the arrest. The arrest is the seizing and detaining of a person by lawful authority. Bohm ; Haley, 2008, p. 12) The booking process in the move seemed to only include a phone call. During a normal booking process the police officers typically perform all of the administrative duties required to complete the arrest such as entering the suspect’s information into the computer, collect the suspect’s fingerprints, and photograph the suspect. (Bohm ; Haley, p. 12) Once this is complete they are taken to the correctional facility to be housed. In most cases they are stripped of their personal clothing and issued state jail suits. In the movie this didn’t happen immediately.

The two boys were then placed in the same cell together which I thought personally was quite odd. The fact is I don’t think many jails would place suspects of the same crime together. The lawyer that they chose to represent them was very inexperienced. In most murder cases the lawyer that you would hire should have more experience than what Vinny had. The next step in the system is initial appearance. Here they are given formal notice of the charges against them and advised of their rights. (Bohm ; Haley, 2008, p. 13) The movie included this in their depiction of the criminal justice system.

In the movie they called it the arraignment. The arraignment is where the defendant either pleads guilty or not guilty. During this stage the bail is also set which was also done in the movie. In the movie the set the preliminary hearing for the next morning in which the witnesses testified to what they saw and heard. This allows the judge to decide if there is probable cause to make and indictment. Based upon the information we have learned it seems that the arraignment should have happened after the preliminary hearing and that the initial appearance was missed altogether.

There are many different types of lawyers to choose from. They are criminal lawyers, court appointed lawyers, public defenders, contract lawyers and district attorneys’. Criminal lawyers are those that are privately retained. (Bohm & Haley, p. 275) Most criminal lawyers only take cases that are highly public, those looking to make a new law or when it involves a large amount of money. (Bohm & Haley, p. 275) Court-Appointed lawyers are those that are appointed for a defendant whom can’t afford to pay for one. (Bohm ; Haley, p. 275) These lawyers are normally on a volunteer or rotating basis and appointed by the judge. Bohm ; Haley, p. 275) The Public Defender are paid a fixed salary by the local area and used for folks that can’t afford to pay for a lawyer. (Bohm & Haley, p. 275) Contract lawyers are becoming more popular and would be contracted to defend folks that can’t afford to pay for a lawyer. (Bohm ; Haley, p. 275) Stan then decided that he wanted to switch to a public defender because he felt Vinny didn’t have the experience necessary to win the case. The next stage in the system was to determine who the jurors would be. The jury was selected by only asking a few questions.

In a normal jury selection process includes a random number of people who are considered the jury pool also known as a venire. (Bohm & Haley, 2008, p. 295) From this pool of possible jurors they go through a process called voir dire. (Bohm & Haley, p. 295) A voir dire is the process in which persons who might be biased or unable to render a fair verdict are screened out. (Bohm & Haley, p. 295) During this process the judge, prosecutors, and the defense attorneys ask question regarding their knowledge and background of the case. The goal is to keep only 12 of these folks to the actual trial.

In many high profile cases it is very difficult to find impartial jurors. The final stage in the movie was the actual trial. The charges are introduced by the court clerk as murder n the 1st degree for Bill and accessory or aiding and embedding a criminal for Stan. In a normal trial the jury would have been sworn in under oath. The next thing that happens in a normal trial is the opening statement by the prosecution and the defense attorney which did happen in the movie. The next thing that happens is that the prosecution presents their case and starts calling witnesses for questioning.

The job of the prosecution is to convince the jury that the defendant committed the crimes that they are being charge of. The defense attorney will then cross examine any witnesses they feel necessary. For instance in the movie Vinny cross examined all the witnesses’ testimonies and found holes that would leave doubt with the jury. In the court room the prosecution is always on the left and the defense is always on the right side of the room. There should always be guards at the door in the event of any catastrophic happenings. The court clerk always is to the left of the judge and the witnesses are to the right of him or her.

In the movie the trial lasted for three days. In this particular trial there were really no closing statements but there was a surprise witness that was needed to have the charges dismissed. It seems like the sheriffs’ office did not investigate the crime to their fullest ability. If the lawyer would not have uncovered the necessary evidence to have the charges dismissed they would have faced the death penalty. In the movie they mentioned the electric chair is Alabama’s choice of use when administering the death penalty. There are different options depending on the state you reside in.

The choices are lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging and firing squad. In this particular case the appeal process was not necessary however many defendants who have been sentenced to the death penalty will go through many appeals before the execution actually would take place. Another piece of the criminal justice system that was not necessary was the sentencing. This is normally another hearing which is held to determine the punishment that fits the crime. In conclusion, I think that this was a great movie to watch relating to the issues that face the criminal justice system.

It opened my eyes to the facts that not all cases are as cut and dry as I would have once thought. Mostly my experience with the criminal justice system was determined by what I hear on the news along with the different crime show displayed on the television. I think there needs to be some regulations put on how the news portrays the way actual crimes occurred so that we would have less of a chance of having biased jurors. Reference Bohm, R. M. , ; Haley, K. N. (2008). Introduction to Criminal Justice (5th ed. ). (M. Ryan, Ed. ). New York: Mcgraw – Hill.

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The Ending Of My Cousin Vinny Explained

There are plenty of great movies about the legal profession out there, but few are as memorable and beloved as 1992's "My Cousin Vinny." Directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Dale Launer, the film tells the story of New Yorker and aspiring lawyer Vincent LaGuardia Gambini ( Joe Pesci ), who travels to a small town in Alabama to help his nephew Bill ( Ralph Macchio ) and friend Stan Rothenstein (Mitchell Whitfield) out of a pretty serious legal jam. During a road trip from New York to California, where the two boys are set to attend college in California, they accidentally shoplift a can of tuna... and are accused of a murder in the same store, despite the fact that they definitely didn't shoot and kill the clerk at the Sack o' Suds.

With his loyal, smart-mouthed fiancée Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei, who won an Oscar for her role) by his side, Vinny, against all odds — and with local judge Chamberlain Haller (Fred Gwynne) breathing down his neck at every turn — is triumphant, winning the case and freeing the innocent boys. In the decades since its release, the film has gained new audiences year after year, and even real-life lawyers have praised its authenticity . (Beyond that, if you're not familiar with Pesci's album where he sings in character as Vinny ... you're in for a serious treat.) From Vinny's legal genius to Mona Lisa's secret skills, here's everything about the ending of "My Cousin Vinny," explained.

Vinny is actually a top-notch lawyer

Though Vinny might seem like a bumbling, inefficient would-be lawyer who barely passed the bar exam and has actual courtroom experience — a fact he has to hide from Judge Haller throughout the entire case, assuming fake names of famous lawyers — the key to the entire story is Vinny's ingenuity, razor-sharp wit, and unimpeachable instincts. Knowing full well that Bill and Stan, two perfectly nice boys, didn't kill anybody, Vinny instinctively knows that something else must be going on, and manages to raise a ton of doubt in the jury's mind despite Judge Haller's antagonistic attitude.

Throughout the trial, whether he's figuring out that one witness has terrible eyesight and another exaggerated the cooking time on grits — which completely skews the testimony — Vinny emerges triumphant, because... he's actually an excellent lawyer. As the trial progresses and he gets closer to the truth, Vinny sways the jury, earns the respect of district attorney Jim Trotter III (Lane Smith), and wins over several of the small town's residents. Ultimately, when Vinny emerges victorious, it really shouldn't come as much of a surprise, considering that he really is, as Judge Haller puts it, "one hell of a trial lawyer."

Mona Lisa is instrumental to solving the case

However, despite his desire to do so, Vinny doesn't solve the case all by himself — he needs help from his friends and loved ones, especially his fiancée Mona Lisa . Though she repeatedly offers her assistance, Vinny turns her down every time, infuriating her (especially since she and Vinny are delaying their wedding until he finally wins a case).

Vinny keeps telling Mona Lisa that he needs to win the case on his own, but in the end, Mona Lisa seriously comes through... and provides the final nail in the coffin. After Mona Lisa takes a series of photos that includes a plate of grits, Vinny in the shower, and tire tracks, Vinny realizes something crucial: the tracks, which were made by the actual murderers, couldn't have come from Bill and Stan's car. Luckily, Mona Lisa, an "out of work hairdresser" who just so happened to grow up in a family of mechanics, is a complete car expert, and provides expert testimony that Bill and Stan couldn't possibly have committed the murder — and after a brilliant hunch from Vinny, it's revealed that the killers were driving a car that looks stunningly similar to Billl and Stan's.

Vinny not only needs Mona Lisa as his final witness — he also needs her help to evade Judge Haller. Just as they prepare to leave and the judge is about to discover that Vinny has no experience, an old friend of Vinny's from New York, Judge Malloy, helps out from afar, thanks to Mona Lisa's interference. Ultimately, Vinny is a great lawyer... but he still needs help from the people around him from time to time.

"My Cousin Vinny" is available to rent or buy on major streaming platforms now.