News Detail
Courtroom Drama: Law 12 Mock Trials
Students in Law 12 went to court this week in a series of mock trials designed to give them something close to first-hand experience of the legal system.
Four different classes all tried the same made-up case involving multiple faculty members: the attempted murder of Mr. Galen Loiselle by Mr. Tom Lupton, with several other teachers (played by students) called as witnesses. The real Mr. Loiselle teaches the Law 12 course and has been using the same case for a few years, providing a unique way for the students to engage with the course work.
“It’s fun for the students to play as their teachers,” noted Celeste C., who served on the jury for one of the mock trials.
Although the case was entirely fictional and the students took some dramatic liberties in the portrayals of faculty members, the mock trial was taken seriously and served as an excellent learning opportunity.
“When you’re actually in the mock trial, you definitely get a better understanding of the process, the cross-examination, and preparing and evolving your opinion and your side,” said Reese S., part of the defence team in her class.
“It’s a really good experience,” echoed Ronan M., who was part of the prosecution. “I like how immersive it is and how excited some of us get – too excited at times.”
Reese and her fellow defence counsellors suggested that Ms. Katrina Cholack and Mr. Matthew Clinton-Baker were actually guilty of the crime Mr. Lupton was accused of, hoping to increase any doubts that Mr. Lupton was guilty. Unfortunately for their client, they waited until closing arguments to bring up that possibility.
“If we had introduced it sooner, it probably would have had more impact,” Reese admitted.
Reese and Celeste already had strong interest in law as careers prior to taking Law 12 at Shawnigan. Reese is taking Sociology Law and Ethics in university next year, while Celeste is still in Grade 11 and farther away from making those decisions. Ronan said is still “pretty set on bio med” for next year, but admitted, “this was really fun.”
As it stood, only two of the four Law 12 classes came to the same verdicts in Mr. Lupton’s trial. In Block A and Block B, he was found not guilty of attempted murder and failing to remain at the scene of an accident, but guilty of uttering threats. In Block D – which included Reese, Ronan and Celeste – he was found guilty of attempted murder and failing to remain at the scene, and pleaded guilty to uttering threats. And in Block F, he was found not guilty of attempted murder, but guilty of failing to remain at the scene and uttering threats.
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