Quinte Consolidated courthouse in Belleville. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Scores of local high school students will be heading to court this week, to take part in the mock trial competition for the Hastings Cup.
The second annual event at the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse will see teams of six to eight Grade 11 and 12 students from Quinte Secondary School, Quinte Christian School, Bayside Secondary School, Moira Secondary School, St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School and Prince Edward Collegiate Institute.
Samantha Hayward, a local lawyer and chair of the Hastings County Justice Education Committee says it gives students a chance to see what it would be like to run a real trial.
Hayward explained this year’s competition will hear the fictional case against Kelly Steems, who stands charged of operating a vehicle causing bodily harm to Drew Morrie in October 2016 in the fictional city of Mariposa in Missinaba County. During the mock trial, the students will reenact every step of a hearing, including opening the case, examining witnesses, presenting legal arguments, negotiating with opposing counsel and receiving a judgement.
The winning team will advance to the Ontario East Regional Championship in May being held in Ottawa. Last year Centennial Secondary students took home the Hastings Cup, however they won’t be defending their title this year.
The competition gets underway at 9 a.m. Friday April 21.
