By paNOW

Local high school students learn about law at mock trial competition

Apr 18, 2018 | 4:00 PM

A group of local high school students returned from a mock trial competition with a better knowledge of the Canadian legal system.  

Students from École St. Mary in Prince Albert took part in the 19th Annual Mock Trial Competition at Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench over the weekend. The event is held each year as part of Law Day celebrations around the country, which recognizes the signing of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Six teams of high school students from communities across Saskatchewan took part in the event April 14. Two teams of students from Grades 9 to 12 participated in the competition, and spent weeks preparing to act as witnesses, and as lawyers for both the prosecution and defence.

Team One from École St. Mary made it as far as the finals at the event, but lost to a team from Yorkton in the end. Chloe Samolia was recognized with an award for best witness and Jayden Bissky won an award as the best defence lawyer.

Bissky participated on Team One with St. Mary, her third time taking part in the competition. The Grade 12 student said she is hoping to study law in university after graduation and is interested in working in human rights and international law.

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“I definitely learned a lot more about our court systems, and how they work with the legal system,” Bissky said of the competition. “It takes a lot of analysis of the case beforehand to get prepared for it, and then when you’re actually in the courtroom you’re never sure what you’re going to hear, so you have to think on your feet.”

Bissky said the competitions have taught her a lot about the law and the rights of citizens in Canada.

“It’s really interesting, it definitely takes a lot of problem-solving skills,” she added.

Heather Daniel-Minier teaches Christian Ethics at St. Mary and helped her students prepare for the mock trial competition each year for the last 17 years. Students met weekly with local lawyers to prepare their case, she said, which involved a drunk driving incident.

“I think it’s important just so that students understand the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” she said. “It’s also really important for students to understand the legal process.”

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt