Courtroom L-R: Joshua Schwartz, Joel Seifert, Emma Blake, Senator Kim Pate, Justice Karen Horsman, Justice Steve Coroza, Emma De Tommaso, Ikran Jama, and Cheryl Milne.
We are proud to announce that the U of T team – Emma Blake (2L), Ikran Jama (2L), Emma De Tommaso (2L) and Joel Seifert (3L) – won this year’s Wilson Moot.
Facing a new format, and involving 15 teams from across Canada and abroad, our team topped the semi-final round on Saturday to face Osgoode Hall Law School in the final. The final round was judged by Justice Karen Horsman of the BC Court of Appeal, Justice Steve Coroza of the Ontario Court of Appeal and Senator Kim Pate. The topic of the moot was the roll back of benefits and imposition of workfare conditions in a guaranteed income program, engaging arguments based on sections 7 and 15 of the Charter.
In the end, U of T Law won the moot overall and placed second for their factums with Emma B. and Emma D. named 2nd and 3rd place oralists, respectively.
Wilson Moot Winners (L-R): Joel Seifert, Emma Blake, Emma De Tommaso and Ikran Jama
We are incredibly proud of their hard work and tremendous ability to respond to intense questioning from the various judges throughout the competition. We also acknowledge the hard work and support of the 3L student coaches, Carson Cook, Jarren Fefer, Liza Markova and Joshua Schwartz, and faculty coaches, Joseph Cheng, General Counsel with the Department of Justice Canada, National Litigation Sector (Ontario Regional Office) and Cheryl Milne, Executive Director of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights.
Founded in 1992, The Wilson Moot honours the outstanding contributions to Canadian law made by the late Honourable Bertha Wilson and, "in the spirit of this contribution, to promote justice for those disempowered within the legal system."
We want to hear from you! If you're a member of the U of T Law community who recently won a moot or award, please send us an update: connect.law@utoronto.ca
