It’s a moot point My Lord
Redhill High School was crowned the 2013 National Schools Moot champions.
The National Schools Moot Championships is a competition where Grade 11 pupils get to test out their skills as Constitutional Court lawyers.
A set of facts is given (in this case about the right of a pregnant pupil to return to school after having her baby).
Redhill’s team consisted of Sam Musker (Grade 11) and Kate Dewey (Grade 10). Redhill was selected from this round to attend the national round which had four teams from each province.
In the first round in which 300 schools entered, teams of two have to submit an essay arguing each side of the case. This task involves a massive amount of research in constitution and case law.
Legal academics of the University of Pretoria select the top 12, who go through to the provincial round. Here the ‘lawyers’ have to orally present each side of the case in turn. This year this round was held in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court and judging panels consisted of one current magistrate and four other attorneys, advocates or legal academics.
During their presentation the pupils are often interrupted with questions from the judges and these have to be answered straight away.
Redhill made it to the final which was held in the Constitutional Court. On that day the Constitutional Court was packed and the atmosphere was electric. Three current constitutional court judges, Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, Justice Edwin Cameron and Justice Johann Van der Westhuizen were on the judging panel.
Redhill (applicant) was up against Crawford La Lucia – Durban (respondent). The judges gave both teams a tough time, asking probing questions, but in the end Redhill’s presentation was judged superior.
