Lockerby Composite School captured top honours in this year's Mock Trial Competition.
Hilary Duff, Brianna Simeoni, Brooke Williamson, Anthony Nairn, Kathryn Roininen and Andrew Pawluch won the coveted Hennessy Cup at the Sudbury Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 14. Grade 12 Law teacher Shari Blasutti as well as lawyers Patricia Sullivan, from the local law firm of Conroy, Trebb, Scott and Hurtubise, and Bridget Jokitalo, from the local law firm of Desmarais Keenan, coached the team to victory, said a news release.
The Lockerby team will represent the local area at the Northeastern Mock Trial Competition to be held in Sudbury in early March. Students will, once again, prosecute and defend the case of Her Majesty the Queen versus Ari Throxalon who is charged with unlawfully importing cocaine into Canada. Regional winners will compete in the province-wide finals in Toronto in the spring.
In addition to the Hennessy Cup, presented by Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, students from Rainbow Schools won a number of awards:
Miller Maki Best Witness Award - Leeann Perkins of Manitoulin Secondary School and Joanne Thivierge of Sudbury Secondary School - presented by Carol Hartman
Weaver Simmons Best Defense Award Ò Andrew Pawluch, Lockerby Composite School and Carter Stephens, Manitoulin Secondary School - presented by Gerard McAndrew
Edward J. Conroy Civility Award Ò Matt Charron, James Wendler, Jordan Derro, Jacob Belcher, Dylan Martin and Demitri Koutzoukis, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School - presented by Patricia Sullivan
The Lacroix, Forest Best Crown Award, presented by John Michael Bray, went to Brett Gauthier of St. Charles College.
Judy Hunda, Chair of Rainbow District School Board, commended Sudbury's legal community for their ongoing support of student success through their generous contribution of time and expertise. “Mock trials bring learning to life. What better place to learn about the justice system than in a courtroom prosecuting and defending a case before a judge,” she said. “Our local legal community is helping to mentor the next generation of lawyers, enhancing whatÌs taught in the classroom.”
“The Sudbury Mock Trial Competition would not be possible without the volunteer efforts of many lawyers from local legal firms who generously give of their time to mentor student teams in preparation for the competition,Ó said Tiffany Roberts, Curriculum Co-ordinator for the Rainbow District School Board. ÏVolunteers from the Crown Attorney's office and from the Sudbury judicial community also lend their invaluable support to the competition.”
The Mock Trial process, now in its sixth year, is very closely aligned with 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.
Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, Mock Trial Project Leader, has been a driving force behind the competition since its inception. The Hennessy Cup, presented to the winning team, is named after her. “Students have repeatedly told us that the Mock Trial project allows them to experience and learn the fundamental concepts of the justice system in a democracy,” she said. “We are pleased that Sudbury's legal community and secondary schools support this valuable experience.”
A total of 22 teams competed in the Mock Trials from ten secondary schools, including students from Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, Confederation Secondary School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Manitoulin Secondary School and Sudbury Secondary School.
Manitoulin Secondary School, who tied for third place at the provincial level in 2007, made it to the finals once again this year. The team, coached by teacher Bruce Laidley, included Ty Hanninen, Rodney Orford, Leeann Perkins, Natalie Holmes, Carter Stephens, Jesse Bilbija, and Alex Graham. This was Manitoulin Secondary SchoolÌs second year in the Mock Trial Competition.
The Mock Trial Competition is a joint effort of the Sudbury and Manitoulin legal community, Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and Le Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario.
