Mareike Newhouse and Monika Rahman take home the 2008 Guérin Cup

In February, the Sopinka Trial Moot team of Mareike Newhouse and Monika Rahman took first place in the Quebec Round of the Sopinka competition (the Guy-Guérin Cup), and will be competing in the national competition in Ottawa in Mid-March against seven other university teams. The Guérin/Sopinka is a criminal trial moot and this year's problem dealt with a manslaughter case where the defences are self-defence and a break in the chain of causation.

Mareike Newhouse took home the prize for the "Best Opening Statement." In turn, Monika Rahman's closing argument deftly took apart the defence. Professor Ron Sklar has reported that the team of Newhouse and Rahman are hard-working and that their cross-examination skills are "sharp, succinct and merciless!"

The team was ably and generously coached by Lori Weitzman and Lucio Garcia, Provincial Crown Prosecutors.

The Sopinka Cup was established in 1999 to honour the late Supreme Court of Canada Justice John Sopinka and to encourage law schools to train students in the art of oral advocacy.

The Faculty wishes Mareike and Monika the very best of luck in the national round this month!