Andrew Carvajal and Alexandre Bien-Aimé take 2009 Guérin Cup
![Andrew Carjaval, Ron Sklar and Alexandre Bien-Aimé](/channels/files/channels/styles/fullwidth_breakpoints_theme_moriarty_small_1x/public/channels/image/104584_teamSopinkaQC.jpg?itok=7uHEPbkO×tamp=1346681387)
This weekend, the team of Andrew Carvajal
(left) and Alexandre Bien-Aimé (right) took First
Prize at the Quebec Round of the Sopinka competition, also known as
the Guy-Guérin Cup. Four teams took part in this competition, which
was held at the Montreal Courthouse.
Alexandre also won the individual prize for “Best Opening
Statement” and Andrew for “Best Pleader”. According to
Professor Ron Sklar (centre on photo), “Both were at the very top
of their game in the nearly four-hour trial.”
The Sopinka is a criminal trial moot, complete from Crown's opening
statement to its closing statement. This year's case involved
dangerous driving causing two deaths. The main issue was
whether the accused and one of the deceased were drag-racing at the
time of a collision, killing the deceased and another driver, or
whether the accused was speeding to escape from the deceased.
In this trial, the ƻԺ team represented the defence.
Alexandre Bien-Aimé and Andrew Carvajal will now go to Ottawa in
mid-March for the national Sopinka Cup competition. It is
expected they will switch over to the Crown's robes.
They are coached by criminal defence lawyer Julio Peris, Crown
Prosecutor Lori Weitzman, defence lawyer Suzanne Costom, as well as
Professor Ron Sklar.
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 warmly congratulates Andrew and Alexandre, and wishes them the greatest success in Ottawa next month.