Mock Trial Competition: From the Classroom to the Courtroom

Grade 12 law students from nine local secondary schools will take part in the Sudbury Regional Mock Trial Competition at the Sudbury Courthouse on Friday, May 11, 2018.

In this year’s case, an individual is charged with assault causing injuries that resulted in the death of another person, contrary to s. 236 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Mock Trial Competition will begin at 8:20 am in Courtroom A, with an opening address by The Honourable Madam Justice Karen L. Lische from the Ontario Court of Justice and The Honourable Mr. Justice Robbie D. Gordon from the Superior Court of Justice. Trials in the preliminary round will begin at 8:45 am, 10:15 am, and 11:45 am. The championship trial begins at 1:30 pm. The Awards Ceremony will begin at 3:15 pm. The public is welcome to attend and photographs will be permitted.

Close to 95 students from Rainbow District School Board and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will participate in the Mock Trial Competition. Confederation Secondary School, Espanola High School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Sudbury Secondary School, St. Benedict’s, St. Charles College, and Marymount Academy will compete for the Hennessy Cup. The top honour is named after Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, Mock Trial Project Lead since the Mock Trial’s inception 17 years ago.

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 mock trial competitions like the Hennessy Cup throughout the province. The teams competing in Sudbury use the same case scenario and format as about 100 teams throughout Ontario.

The tournament is made possible with support from the Sudbury and District Law Association and local judges. This year, 20 lawyers and articling students from the Greater Sudbury area volunteered their time to assist and coach students as they prepared their cases. The local office of the Ministry of the Attorney General is also a strong supporter and accommodates the competition in the courthouse. To the extent possible, the students enjoy an authentic learning experience presenting their cases in actual courtrooms assisted by experienced court staff.

“The students participating in the Mock Trials put in a lot of effort,” says Madam Justice Karen Lische. “They are focused and prepared for their trial, thanks to the mentoring and coaching by numerous local lawyers who donate their valuable time for this event. By the end of the event, they will have raised their confidence levels and their advocacy skills. They practice what they have been learning in a real courtroom in front of a real judge. The skills they learn and practice during the mock trial process will assist them in years to come, no matter the career they choose.”

She adds: “One of the cornerstones of our Canadian Criminal Justice System is the presumption of innocence. The standard to prove all of the essential elements of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt is a high one. Regardless of the outcome, guilty or not guilty, the students will have a rare opportunity to gain skills that will serve them well in the future.”

Students will participate 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 will be presented – Best Advocate Defense, Best Advocate Crown, Best Witness and the Civility Award for professionalism. Students on each team will determine the recipient of the team’s “Most Valuable Player” who exemplifies leadership excellence.

Rainbow District School Board Chair, Doreen Dewar, thanks the volunteer coaches from the Sudbury and District Law Association and the Sudbury Crown Attorney’s Office who, year after year, provide hundreds of hours of time to this project. “Through the Mock Trial Competition, local lawyers make an invaluable contribution to student learning by bringing the classroom into the courtroom,” she says. “Many students have been inspired to pursue studies in the legal field after secondary school.”

She adds: “We commend the legal community for their continued contribution to this project. They are exceptional role models for community service and student success. We also applaud the Ontario Bar Association and the Ontario Justice Education Network for making this opportunity possible for students across Ontario.”

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:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.