Lasalle Secondary School places third at provincial Mock Trial Tournament

Lasalle Secondary School placed third at the Secondary School Mock Trial Tournament held at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto on Thursday, April 15, 2010. From left, Ryan O’Gorman, Nick Morrison, Matthew Munro, Holly Prince, Alexandra Hunt and Chantelle Chaput won the honour of competing provincially by capturing the coveted Hennessy Cup at the local mock trial. Lawyers Niguel Mousseau and Sarah Viau from the law firm Lacroix, Forest and Grade 12 Law teacher Max Battistoni coached the team to victory. The judges included, from left, Justice David Brown (Superior Court), Justice Kathy Caldwell (Ontario Court of Justice) and Justice Fran Kiteley (Superior Court of Justice).

Lasalle Secondary School placed third at the Secondary School Mock Trial Tournament held at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto on Thursday, April 15, 2010. Holly Prince, Ryan O’Gorman, Alexandra Hunt, Matthew Munro, Nick Morrison and Chantelle Chaput won the honour of competing provincially by capturing the Hennessy Cup at the local Mock Trial Competition.

“Rainbow District School Board congratulates the students on their outstanding achievement and extends its appreciation to Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, the Sudbury Bar Association as well as Grade 12 law teacher Max Battistoni and lawyers Sarah Viau and Niguel Mousseau from the local law firm Lacroix, Forest who coached the team to victory,” said Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “I commend Sudbury’s legal community for their ongoing support of student success through their generous contribution of time and expertise for the local Mock Trial Competition, which has given students the opportunity to compete provincially.”

“These Lasalle students spent long hours studying the criminal code and court procedure,” said Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy. “They practised and rehearsed their examinations, cross-examinations and legal submissions.  With their coaches, they developed new skills in advocacy and public speaking.  When they stepped into that courtroom in Toronto, they were certainly well prepared to match their skills against the best in the province.”

Grade 12 Law Teacher Max Battistoni taught the fundamentals of the law and trial procedure during the first semester when the students were taking the Law course.  Since February, both the students and the teacher made the commitment to continue with the practices on their own time.  They met weekly to refine their examinations and submissions.  In addition to their after school practices, they arranged to have two further practices in the Sudbury courthouse.   Their hard work paid off.

“Learning the fundamentals of the criminal justice system through participation in an actual trial has proven to be a very effective method,” added Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy. “I have watched these students improve tremendously over the course of this project.  Their Toronto experience showcased their increased self confidence and public speaking skills. These Lasalle students have honoured their school and this community by their hard work and determination.  We are all very proud of them.”

Max Battistoni thanked Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy and the local legal community for working with the students from Lasalle Secondary School. He also commended the Ontario Bar Association for hosting the team’s visit to Toronto. “This was a tremendous opportunity for our students, an experience that they will never forget,” he said. “This has, for some, ignited an interest in pursuing a career in law. We are certainly grateful to Sarah Viau and Niguel Mousseau for sharing their expertise with us.”

Dressed in the traditional gowns of the profession, the students presented their respective cases before a panel of judges from the Ontario Court Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. Trophies and prizes were awarded to winners and runners up at the Law Day Closing and Awards Ceremony.

The Ontario Bar Association presents the Secondary School Mock Trial Tournament in conjunction with the Law Day Committee. Students are given a scenario that outlines an alleged criminal offence and they act out the roles of crown attorneys, defense lawyers, witnesses and the accused. The exercise demonstrates how Canadian law not only guarantees rights but also imposes responsibilities on members of society.

Students prosecuted and defended an assault case, designed by lawyers.  The Sudbury District Law Association arranges for local lawyers to volunteer as coaches in the first round of the tournament process.

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.

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Media Contact:

Tiffany Roberts, Curriculum Co-ordinator,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-523-3308, ext. 8209