High school students get hands-on experience of Canadian legal system
Students from across Simcoe Muskoka were in Barrie Thursday putting their knowledge of the legal system to the test with the help of some well-versed experts.
The annual Simcoe Muskoka Mock Trial Competition took over the courtrooms Thursday evening for the first time since the pandemic. The event sees high school students from across the region act out a mock trial in front of real justices.
"It's great for them to be in a real courthouse, being up facing each other with a real judge presiding," said Justice Stacey Nichols. "If the students are interested in law, I think it's an invaluable experience for them to actually go through this process."
The students were given a fact scenario and had been practicing for months. They take on roles including defence, crown and witnesses, understanding how Canada's legal system operates.
"It was really nerve-wracking, but I think so far we're doing pretty well," said Cassidy Collins, a grade 12 student. "We spent a lot of time on this working hard, working late nights, meetings, lots of it and just trying to put together our case and win."
Eight teams were battling to win the contest, with a total of four mock trials happening. Crown attorneys, defence lawyers and court staff all volunteered their time to help make the competition possible.
Maddy Chiasson says while it started as just a fun activity, she has developed an interest in potentially chasing a future career in law.
"Doing this mock trial it's really interesting," the grade 11 student said. "We got to work with really amazing lawyers who prepped us on everything we needed to know and made us really comfortable with the environment we were in, despite the fact that all of us were super nervous!"
Two Ontario Court of Justice Judges and two Superior Court of Justice Judges volunteered their time in the competition.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.