Gale Cup Moot Competition

The Gale Moot concerns a criminal law topic, often one involving the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is a national competition held in Toronto at the Osgoode Hall Law Courts (the Ontario Court of Appeal). Marks are awarded for both the factum and oral presentation, with the latter given more weight.  The UBC team generally has four students. The moot is an appeal from a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada rather than a hypothetical problem.  Students work on their written submissions October-January and practice before judges and senior practitioners in January and February, including a “dress rehearsal” before the B.C. Court of Appeal. The judges for the competition are drawn from the courts of all jurisdictions across Canada, and final rounds are argued before at least one Supreme Court of Canada justice and other senior appellate level judges. Students receive the case in mid-October, with the moot taking place in late February. The Gale is one of the most prestigious Canadian moots and attracts among the largest number of teams. Schools may moot in either English or French, with simultaneous translation provided.  In some years, winners advance to an international competition that takes place in a Commonwealth country.

The faculty advisors for 2009-10 are Professors Isabel Grant and Janine Benedet.