Mock Trial: Lasalle Secondary School captures Hennessy Cup

Northern Life Video of the Mock Trial

Lasalle Secondary School captured top honours at this year’s Mock Trial Competition. From left, Holly Prince, Alexandra Hunt, Matthew Munro, Chantelle Chaput, Nick Morrison and Ryan O’Gorman won the coveted Hennessy Cup at the Sudbury Courthouse on Monday, January 11, 2010. The award was presented by Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez, Chief of Police Frank Elsner and Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy.

Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School captured the silver medal at the Mock Trial Competition. Front row, from left, Jacek Plonka, Grace Holly and Linus Cunningham-Closs. Back row, from left, Tara MacTaggart, coaches Brian Monteiro and Joseph Richards, Grade 12 law teacher Terry Pagan, William Dobson and Max Li.

Lasalle Secondary School captured top honours at this year’s Mock Trial Competition.

Holly Prince, Ryan O’Gorman, Alexandra Hunt, Matthew Munro, Nick Morrison and Chantelle Chaput won the coveted Hennessy Cup at the Sudbury Courthouse on Monday, January 11, 2010. Grade 12 Law teacher Max Battistoni as well as lawyers Sarah Viau and Niguel Mousseau from the local law firm Lacroix, Forest coached the team to victory.

Silver medalists from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School included Max Li, Tara MacTaggart, Jacek Plonka, Joey Walker, Grace Holly, Linus Cunningham-Closs, William Dobson and Grade 12 Law teacher Terry Pagan. They were coached by Brian Monteiro, a Student-at-Law with the Superior Court Justice and Joseph Richards, a Student-at-Law with the Sudbury Office of the Crown Attorney. When Joseph Richards was a Grade 12 student at Lockerby Composite School, he received recognition as best advocate at the 2004 Mock Trial Competition.

In addition to the Hennessy Cup, a number of individual awards were presented:

Miller Maki Best Witness Award
Emilie Hirshfeld –  St. Charles College
Coaches: Michael Haraschuk/Damien Buntsma (Weaver, Simmons)
and
Tara MacTaggart –  Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
Coaches:  Brian Monteiro (Superior Court Justice Student-at-Law / Joseph Richards Crown Attorney Office Student-at-Law)
Award Presenter:  Matthew Madott (Miller, Maki)

Lacroix, Forest Best Advocate Crown Award
Chantelle Chaput – Lasalle Secondary School
Coaches:  Sarah Viau / Niguel Mousseau (Lacroix, Forest)
Award Presenter:  Sarah Viau (Lacroix, Forest)

Weaver Simmons Best Advocate Defence Award
Mark Mancini – Lockerby Composite School
Coaches:  Patricia Sullivan / James Ross (Conroy, Trebb)
Award Presenter:  John Recoskie (Weaver, Simmons)

Edward J. Conroy Q.C. Team Civility Award
Holly Prince, Ryan O’Gorman, Alexandra Hunt, Matthew Munro, Nick Morrison, Chantelle Chaput – Lasalle Secondary School
Coaches:  Sarah Viau / Niguel Mousseau (Lacroix, Forest)
Award Presenter:  Patricia Sullivan (Conroy, Trebb)

Tyler Campbell, 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. ““I would like to thank the volunteer coaches from the Sudbury and District Law Association and the Sudbury Crown Attorney’s office who, once again, have provided hundreds of hours of time to this project.  The local lawyers make an invaluable contribution to student learning, taking it from the classroom to the courtroom.   These lawyers often ignite in the students a passion for the law, inspiring them to work hard in university and continue their studies in law school.  As an added bonus, students see first-hand the community service commitment that these professionals make, which so enriches our city.”

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.

“Learning the fundamentals of the criminal justice system through participation in an actual trial has proven to be a wonderful experience,” said Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy. “Students are learning the democratic principles which underlie our justice system. They prepare their witnesses and their examinations the same way that practicing lawyers do preparation work.”

She added: “The Sudbury lawyers who mentor and coach the students bring added skill and experience to the teaching.  Year after year, we see outstanding work from these students who have learned advocacy and public speaking skills from their lawyer coaches.”

Close to 70 students from the Rainbow District School Board and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board took part in the 2010 Mock Trial.

Schools participating in this year’s competition included Espanola High School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Sudbury Secondary School and St. Charles College.

-30-

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