Grade 12 law students from Rainbow District School Board and Near North District School Board donned legal gowns to prosecute and defend an individual charged with “second degree murder,” contrary to s. 235 of the Criminal Code of Canada at this year's Mock Trial Competition.
Silver medals were presented to Espanola High School Team No. 2 including Trinity Wabegijig-Cooper, Owen Bourcier, Alexa Hunt, Evanlee Yarkie and Isabella St. Michel. 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 competitions like the Hennessy Cup throughout the province. Teams competing in Sudbury use the same case scenario and format as other teams throughout Ontario.
Leading up to the event, 18 lawyers and articling students from the Greater Sudbury area, as well as three lawyers from North Bay, 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 with both facilities and staff.