Grade 12 law students from Rainbow District School Board and Near North District School Board donned legal gowns to prosecute and defend an individual charged with "criminal harassment" contrary to s. 264 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Close to 50 students from Confederation Secondary School, Espanola High School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Sudbury Secondary School and Chippewa Secondary School competed for the Hennessy Cup - named after Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, a driving force for the Mock Trial Competition since its inception in 2001.
The Hennessy Cup was awarded to Chippewa Secondary School students Yeva Kortkykh, Molly Robertson, Sydney Bruner, Addie Murton, Breanna Dumond, Aaila Van Haesendonck, Jaidyn Embrack and Ellie Liddle.
Silver medals were presented to Sudbury Secondary School students Lucius Cyr, Daynara Cyr, Sadie Daily, Vella Miller, OJ Ikobayo, Ryan Kazibwe and Sophia Webb.
"Year after year, we see an impressive group of students who have worked hard to prepare for the Mock Trial Competition. Students acquire and develop portable skills through their preparation regardless of their ultimate career path," said Regional Senior Justice Karen Lische of the Ontario Court of Justice. "The process allows students a glimpse into the law as a profession and to get a sense as to what it might feel like to be involved in the criminal justice system as a witness. Through this process, students have the opportunity to better appreciate the presumption of innocence."
The Hennessy Cup is part of the OJEN/OBA Competitive Mock Trials - a provincial program of the Ontario Bar Association and the Ontario Justice Education Network. The OBA and OJEN support competitions like the Hennessy Cup throughout the province. Teams competing in Sudbury use the same case and format as other teams throughout Ontario.
The competition was made possible with support from the Ontario Justice Education Network, Sudbury and District Law Association and local judges. This year, the presiding Judges will be Ontario Superior Court Justice Alex Kurke, Ontario Superior Court Justice Susan Stothart, Ontario Court Justice Julie Lefebvre, Justice of the Peace Erin Olesen-Schinke, and Ontario Superior Court Justice Patricia Hennessy.
Leading up to the event, 15 lawyers from the Greater Sudbury area, as well as two lawyers from North Bay, volunteered their time to assist and coach students as they prepared their cases. The local office of the Ministry of the Attorney General is a strong supporter and accommodates the competition in the courthouse with both facilities and staff. Students and instructors from Cambrian College and Laurentian University also volunteered during the competition to ensure that the day's proceedings ran smoothly. To the extent possible, the students enjoyed an authentic learning experience presenting their cases in actual courtrooms assisted by experienced court staff and volunteers.
Students participated in trials throughout the day with the top two performing teams participating in the Championship Trial. In addition to the Hennessy Cup, a number of other awards were presented. Students on each team determined the recipient of the team's "Most Valuable Player" who exemplified leadership excellence.
"The mock trial judges strive to give each student individualized feedback with the hopes of enhancing their experience," said Justice Erin Cullin of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. "There is an award for Team Civility as the civility of counsel is exceptionally important, even in an adversarial system. Other awards include Best Witness, Best Advocate Crown and Best Advocate Defence. I applaud the students, the teachers and the lawyer coaches for their efforts. The committee that adjudicated the awards had a very difficult task because there were so many excellent candidates."
Rainbow District School Board Chair David Farrow extends thanks to the many volunteer coaches from the Sudbury Crown Attorney's Office and the Sudbury and District Law Association who, year after year, provide countless hours of their time to this project. "Through the competition, local lawyers are making a critical contribution to student learning by bringing the classroom into the courtroom," he said. "As a result, many students are inspired to pursue studies in the legal field after secondary school."
"We commend the legal community for their continued contribution. They are exceptional role models for community service and student success," said Director of Education Bruce Bourget. "We also applaud the Ontario Justice Education Network and the Ontario Bar Association for supporting an initiative that enhances the student learning experience inside and outside of the classroom."
The Mock Trial Competition is well established within the Grade 12 Law curriculum. In addition to meeting curriculum expectations, mock trials develop other skills in students, including public speaking, teamwork, presentation, preparation and critical thinking skills.
