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On February 15, 2025, Schulich School of Law students David Cruz and Aleida Whidden were named the winners of the 26^th McKelvey Cup when they defeated the team from the University of New Brunswick in the final. Cruz also received the James E. Lockyer Award for Best Overall Advocate.

Coached by Brian Casey, KC, Kathryn Pich茅, and Jeremy Smith, Schulich Law sent two teams to this year鈥檚 competition; its Crown team of听Adrienne Graham and Leily Farman-Farmaian competed against the defence team from Universit茅 de Moncton while Schulich Law鈥檚 defence team of听Cruz and Whidden took on the University of New Brunswick in their trial.

The McKelvey Cup, known as Atlantic Canada鈥檚 most competitive moot, is a moot in which students do a mock jury trial. 鈥淭he challenge with this moot is that students need to do a direct examination and a cross-examination, as well as a jury address,鈥� says Casey. 鈥淒avid and Aleida did an outstanding job in presenting the defence in their case.鈥�

The jury judges the competition, which this year included Madam Justice Cindy Bourgeois of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and trial lawyers from throughout Nova Scotia. The judges shared that they were impressed with the students鈥� skills and enjoyed watching them perform.

Cruz says he was grateful to be recognized with the James E. Lockyer Award for Best Overall Advocate. 鈥淚 spent months preparing for the case. I ruthlessly considered every word of each examination and my closing argument,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he award 鈥� granted by a panel of excellent litigators 鈥� is an acknowledgement of that preparation.鈥�

The Schulich School of Law has a successful track record at the Stewart McKelvey-sponsored moot, winning five of the last 10 times.

Whidden shares that preparing for the McKelvey Cup was a lot of hard work but very rewarding. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have done it without the support of our coaches and classmates,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he experience helped me grow as an advocate by developing my courtroom skills and building my confidence. I鈥檓 so proud of what we accomplished. It鈥檚 an honour to have the opportunity to represent Schulich Law at the Sopinka Cup.鈥�

The McKelvey Cup is the regional competition for the Sopinka Cup. Cruz and Whidden will represent Atlantic Canada in Ottawa at the national moot in March.
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