Students summoned before Magistrates

Organised by the Citizenship Foundation in partnership with the Magistrates’ Association and local magistrates and court staff, the Competition aims to introduce young people to the legal system in an innovative and exciting way.  Teams of 12-14 year olds take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, magistrates and court staff in a specially written criminal case, competing against other schools – as prosecution and defence – with their performance judged by real magistrates and legal professionals.

Following an exciting Local Heat, Students from Cardinal Langley RC High School, Middleton are preparing themselves for the next round of the Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition.  The Regional Final will take place at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 14th May 2005.

Cardinal Langley will now meet schools from Bolton, Manchester, Merseyside, Flintshire and Lancashire, all eager to make it to the National Final this Summer at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 25th June 2005.

Local magistrates have been helping them with their preparations.

Valerie Rigg representing the Magistrates in the Community Group said “The pupils of Cardinal Langley School have worked very hard to achieve this level of competence and the Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood Magistrates are thrilled that they are going through to the regional finals of the Mock Trial Competition.  The Magistrates in the Community have forged strong links with the Borough’s schools over the years and together with the Magistrates’ Association are proud to have been involved in the organisation of this competition.”

Gerry Hunt, Citizenship Co-ordinator of Cardinal Langley said “We value greatly the mock trial competition which complements our citizenship work in Year 9.  The support shown by the citizenship and local magistrates makes this an enjoyable experience for both staff and students alike and an event that all schools should take advantage of.”

Janet Stelnicki, Court Manager said “Rochdale, Middleton & Heywood Magistrates’ Court is proud to be hosting a Local Heat for the competition.  Our magistrates enjoy working with young people from local schools and regularly visit schools in the Borough to conduct presentations about the magistracy.  We wish Cardinal Langley every success in the Regional Finals.”