Lockerby Mock Trial Team Heads to Provincial Competition

The Lockerby Composite School Mock Trial team that captured top honours at this year’s competition will travel to Toronto on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 to compete at the provincial level. Hilary Duff, Brianna Simeoni, Brooke Williamson, Anthony Nairn, Kathryn Roininen and Andrew Pawluch will prosecute and defend the case of Her Majesty the Queen versus Ari Throxalon who is charged with unlawfully importing cocaine into Canada.

The Lockerby team won the coveted Hennessy Cup in January and went on to win the Northeastern Mock Trial Competition held in Sudbury last month. Grade 12 Law teacher Shari Blasutti, and 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.

Team member Andrew Pawluch, who received the Weaver Simmons Best Defense Award during the local Mock Trial Competition, was recently selected as a University of Toronto National Scholar, one of only 12 high school students selected in Canada by the country’s largest university.

"The National Scholarship will be worth well over $60,000 to Andrew, covering his tuition, accommodation and other expenses over the next four years as he pursues his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in Ethics, Society and Law," says Bruce Bourget, Principal of Lockerby Composite School. "Our entire team is comprised of very talented and dedicated students and we wish them all the best as they compete as one of the elite teams in the province."

Judy Hunda, Chair of Rainbow District School Board, congratulated Lockerby Composite School for its impressive showing. She also commended Sudbury’s legal community for supporting this authentic learning experience for students. "What better place to learn about the justice system than in a courtroom prosecuting and defending a case before a judge," she said. Chair Hunda thanked the local crown attorneys, lawyers and legal firms who generously give of their time to mentor student teams for 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. Manitoulin Secondary School tied for third place at the Provincial Mock Trial Competition in 2007.

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Media Contact:

Tiffany Roberts, Curriculum Co-ordinator,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-523-3308, ext. 8209