Mock Trial: Lockerby Composite School Captures Hennessy Cup

Photo Cutline:

Lockerby Composite School captured top honours in this year’s Mock Trial Competition. From left, Spencer Lee, Mathieu Labonte, Anthony Maki, Zachary Courtemanche, Anthony Richer and James Silvestre won the coveted Hennessy Cup at the Sudbury Courthouse on Monday, January 12, 2009. The award, named after Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, was presented by Lise Poratto-Mason of Mason, Poratto-Mason LLP. The Lockerby team will represent the local area at the Northeastern Mock Trial Competition to be held in Sudbury in early March.

Lockerby Composite School School captured top honours at this year’s Mock Trial Competition. 

Mathieu Labonte, Zachary Courtemanche, Anthony Maki, James Sylvestre, Anthony Richer and Spencer Lee won the coveted Hennessy Cup at the Sudbury Courthouse on Monday, January 12, 2009. Grade 12 Law teacher Shari Blasutti as well as lawyers Jennifer Madott and John Recoskie from the local law firm of Weaver Simmons coached the team to victory.

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 Edvard Nosferatu (also known as Howard Stunned) who is charged with willfully promoting hatred against the Floman ethnic group.

In addition to the Hennessy Cup, presented by Lise Poratto-Mason of the law firm Poratto, Poratto-Mason LLP, a number of individual awards were presented:


Miller Maki Best Witness Award

Vanessa Hering of Sudbury Secondary School – presented by Trevor Kestle

Lacroix, Forest Best Advocate Crown Award

Courtney Murdock of Manitoulin Secondary School and Zach Courtemanche of Lockerby Composite School – presented by Sarah Viau

Weaver Simmons Best Advocate Defence Award

Jason Brisebois, St. Benedict – presented by Jennifer Madott

Edward J. Conroy Civility Award

Kelsey Collins, Austin Roy, Jason Brisebois, Kayla Jacob, Cody Schmidt and Michael Vettoretti of St. Benedict – presented by Trish Sullivan

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 what’s 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,” said Tiffany Roberts, Curriculum Co-ordinator for the Rainbow District School Board.  “Volunteers from the Crown Attorney’s office and from the Sudbury and Manitoulin judicial communities also lend their invaluable support to the competition.”

The Mock Trial process, now in its seventh 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.

A total of nine teams competed in the Mock Trial from seven secondary schools, including students from Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Manitoulin Secondary School and Sudbury Secondary School.

The Mock Trial Competition is a joint effort of the Sudbury and Manitoulin legal communities, Rainbow District School Board and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

-30-

Media Contact:

Tiffany Roberts, Curriculum Co-ordinator,

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