The Solomon Greenberg Competition has a long tradition at Robson Hall. Over its 47 year history winners

have included Queen’s Bench judges, ministers of justice and even a former Robson Hall Dean of Law. The competition is the culmination of the advocacy course which was instructed by Jeff Gindin, defence attorney, Gindin Wolson Simmonds Roitenberg. Eight students are selected out of the entire second year class to be involved. The eight students selected this year were: Theresa Canon, Eric Buettner, Graham Durrant-Taylor, Spencer Chimuk, Meira Gisser, Jessie Thorn-Finch, Boyd McGill and Myra Tait. 

The Solomon Greenberg Finalists were called upon to prepare and present a criminal jury trial. The finalists were divided into four trial pairings: two teams for the Defence and two for the Crown. There were two half-day trials held on January 14, 2012 which were headed up by Jeff Gindin and the Honourable Justice Rick Saull, Court of Queen’s Bench.  

This year’s winner of the Solomon Greenberg Competition is Spencer Chimuk and the runner-up is Boyd McGill.  

"It was a little intimidating to put on robes for the first time and present arguments in front of a judge, but I really enjoyed the competition.  Once you begin speaking the nerves settle quickly and time really flies.  My favorite part of the competition was definitely the cross examination.  You practice and practice and review your notes, but you never really know what's going to happen when a witness takes the stand.  The cross is really fun because you get to square off against the witness.  You know what you want them to say, and they probably know it too, but they don't really know why you want them to say what they do; how it's going to fit into you're closing.  I just love the battle of wits. It was a great experience and I'm excited for the next competition."  Spencer Chimuk.

"I learned far more about advocacy by standing up and doing it than I would have by reading about it or watching someone else.  Robson Hall should be proud of this program, as I know that my friends at other law schools do not get the same opportunity for practical experience." Boyd McGill.

Spencer and Boyd will now go on to represent Manitoba at the Western Canada Moot Trial Competition, which is being hosted by Robson Hall, Feb. 11 & 12. We wish the all the best.

We congratulate all the students who participated including the student volunteers who helped made the competition a success.  Student volunters were: Leah Klassen, Rebecca Hammond, Monica Shannon, Kayla Pope, Andrei Korottchenko, Mary Ellen Wayne, Jayne Rossworn, Arkadiusz Empel, Kaley Tschetter, Serena Ehrmantraut, Sivananthan Sivarouban, Dayna Steinfeld, Laura Hodgson, Georgia Ongley, Kate Riley, Chuck Polanski, and Jessica Mahabir.