This year’s The Cathedral School Moot Court presents a tense reenactment of the Queensland court process, where a gripping fictional story is brought to life through a mock trial. With the prosecution played by Ryan Catholic College, and defence by The Cathedral School, this interesting hypothetical legal case will be argued before the jury, played by St Margaret Mary’s, and returning Judge, Greg Cudmore.

By The Publicity People: Grace Taylor, Abigail Sadewasser, Charli Harris

A night of celebration ended in tragedy. Year 12 graduate Jasmine Eve now faces charges of manslaughter after school captain Lucas Adams fell 18 storeys during a drug-fuelled party on the Gold Coast. What really happened that night, and who is responsible?

The trial will occur on Tuesday, 24th of June, hosted at The Cathedral School’s Lecture Theatre, and will run for the duration of the day.

More than a play or a show of acting, this mock trial follows the legal process of Queensland court as accurately as possible. Moot Court endeavours to put senior legal students in the shoes of real legal professionals, challenging their public speaking, analytical skills and courtroom knowledge.

Students are invited to witness justice put to the test in a show of courtroom commotion and critical thinking, as Lucas’ story is revealed and Jasmine’s freedom is on the line.

YEAR 1 LEGAL STUDIES MOOT COURT: 23 June 2025

A night of celebration ended in tragedy. Year 12 graduate Jasmine Eve faced charges of manslaughter after school captain Lucas Adams fell 18 storeys during a drug-fuelled schoolies celebration on the Gold Coast. What really happened that night — and who is responsible?

This is the concise version of the scenario for this year’s Moot Court. On the 23rd of June 2025, Legal Studies students from Ryan Catholic College and The Cathedral School replicated real-world adversarial legal processes, battling it out in the mock Supreme Court with a bailiff, judge’s associate, judge, 12-person jury, and a defence and prosecution team with two counsel each. The courtroom was filled with tension as witness after witness gave testimonies and were mercilessly questioned, before eventually a verdict was reached.

As the prosecution, Ryan Catholic College examined evidence, questioned witnesses, and painted Jasmine as cruel and unfair for providing her friend with illegal substances to have a “good time.” They presented Jasmine to the jury as responsible for Lucas’ death, and a well-educated druggy. In retaliation, Cathedral leant heavily on Australia’s process of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ Jasmine’s defence team brought in their own witnesses, and worked to portray Jasmine as a loving, innocent friend of Lucas—an academic ‘goody two shoes’—who she only wanted to “get something out of [schoolies].” They convinced the audience that Lucas’ death was an accident.

After hours of questioning, objections, and of cross-examinations, the prosecution and defence presented their closing statements before the Jury deliberated their decision behind closed doors. The jury took only 20 minutes to decide Jasmine’s fate. She was found not guilty of manslaughter.

Enquire
REGISTER TO RECEIVE YOUR ENROLMENT PACK VIA EMAIL.