Upon being called to the bar, legal counsel can typically expect that, as lawyers, they will be presenting their submissions as either defence or the Crown; never as both.
For the talented, future crackshot lawyers honing their skills at Yorkton Regional High School, however, that was exactly what happened.They were required to present as both sides, and for the same case no less.
The case itself, of course, was fictional, but the setting and stakes were decidedly not: in a real courthouse, with the proceedings adjudicated by a real judge.
Taking place at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon under the watchful eyes of Madam Justice Donna Wilson, the two teams from Yorkton Regional High School’s Mock Trial club were duly sent to compete in the Provincial Mock Trial to reclaim the McKercher Cup. They succeeded.
The case, though fictitious, read ominously: R. vs Rogers, charged with manslaughter.
“HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AGAINST JAMIE ROGERS,” the case file reads.
“Jamie Rogers stands charged:
“1. That he/she, on or about the 28th day of October, 2017, in the City of Saskatoon, in the Province of Saskatchewan, did cause the death of Nik Pasternak, and thereby commit manslaughter, to wit: that Jamie Rogers assaulted Nik Pasternak and caused injuries resulting in death, contrary to s. 236 of the Criminal Code.”
Tasso Stamatinos and Kathryn Blommaert, both of Yorkton Regional High School took top honours in the competition.
“We started practicing a few months in advance,” said Blommaert.
“Basically, we just get this case and then we review it and come up with a perspective on it.
“We go to a mock trial where we go against other teams.”
Blommaert intends to study law, and is preparing to commence her undergraduate at the University of Regina this Fall.
“Next year I’m going to Regina to take my Bachelor in Human Justice.”
Simultaneously, she is preparing for her LSATs, to be taken in the final year of her undergraduate studies. From there, she will prepare for her Juris Doctor, and then ultimately will take the final bar exam in order to be admitted to the bar to practice law.
“I always made sure to prepare each night,” Stamatinos said.
“Confidence is the most important key to anything, and I found that that helped our team because everyone was very confident in what they were doing.
“I got positive feedback [from the justices]. They told me that I did a good job; both my defence and prosecution along with my closing statements and they also gave me some pointers to work on.
“I’m kind of torn between education and law,” Stamatinos admitted.
“I’ve got a couple of lawyers in my family so there’s some experience in my family that could help me. I like public speaking and I’m very interested in government, both provincial and also federal.”
Sage advice from The Honourable Mr. Justice Joseph W. Quinn of the Ontario Superior Court will no doubt ring true with the young future lawyers:
“Never lose sight of your role in the courtroom: it is to persuade. And, to persuade, you must have the trust of the court. If the judge does not trust you, only the manifestly clear issues will fall your way.”
