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More than 80 people gathered at the Weldon Law Building on March 11 for the 15th听annual Weldon Literary Moot, which asked the audience to ponder one key question before rendering a decision in the case R v. Frankenstein 鈥� could they reasonably hold a two-month-old accountable for multiple gruesome murders?

With characters based on Mary Shelley鈥檚 1818 Gothic novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, the Trial of Frankenstein versus the Monster concerned the potential criminal activity of the Monster with respect to the deaths of Elizabeth and the De Lacey family 鈥� despite being 鈥榯echnically鈥� just two months old at the time.

This year鈥檚 dynamic cast included Chief Librarian Mark Lewis as the Monster, Professor Sara Ross as De Lacey, and Assistant Professors Suzie Dunn and Matthew Dylag as Elizabeth and Victor Frankenstein.

Law students Laken Tucker (1L) and Leah Jadd (2L) represented the Crown, while Chaeyon Lee (3L) and Alexander Korski (3L) represented the accused, the Monster. Professor Lucie Guibault led the proceedings as Justice Presiding, while Emily Huang (3L) served as Bailiff.

The annual sketch-comedy moot raises money for the听, a non-profit organization that provides university-level humanities education to community members who otherwise would not be able to afford it. This year, the moot raised $4,530.听听

What鈥檚 at stake?

In Ingolstadt, an unusual criminal case has reached the Supreme Literary Moot Court of 鲍鱼tv. The accused is Victor Frankenstein鈥檚 reanimated creation, only two months old, yet towering and charged with multiple murders, including the deaths of Elizabeth and members of the De Lacey family.

The case raises an unusual question: when a scientist creates a powerful being, who is responsible for the harm that follows? The creator or the creation?

The Crown argues that the creature is a calculating and intelligent killer. The defence insists he is simply a neglected and abandoned child. Ultimately, the court will leave the verdict up to the audience to decide who the real monster is.

(Re)animated testimony

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The Crown's first witness, Victor Frankenstein, opened with the admission that he鈥檇 created the creature because he longed to be a father. He claimed he tried to love his son and raise him responsibly, but the child was difficult, sneaking out at night, challenging authority, and even going as far as demanding he build him a girlfriend.

Under cross-examination, Frankenstein admitted he never gave the child a proper name and barely searched for him when he ran away. His unusual 鈥渟cientific鈥� parenting style, not to mention his questionable explanation for how he鈥檇 acquired the various body parts, raised serious doubts about his credibility.

Elizabeth, testifying as a ghost, said she once loved the creature but suspected he was secretly far more intelligent than he appeared, describing finding advanced texts like the Magna Carta in his room and overhearing him muttering to himself about complex subjects.

However, the defence undermined her testimony after revealing internet searches suggesting she wanted to 鈥済et rid of him鈥� and confirming the creature slept on a concrete slab amid harsh conditions, as per the directions in her partner鈥檚 parenting handbook.

Sir De Lacey, the blind man who had welcomed the creature into his home, provided a starkly different account. On the stand, he described how the lonely monster helped with chores and became like a son to him. He even named him Jeff.

The Crown, however, questioned how De Lacey could confirm any of this without the use of his sight, and especially given the mysterious disappearance of his family.

When 鈥楯eff鈥� himself testified, he spoke plainly, using repetitive phrases, insisting he was lonely, unloved, and incapable of murder. But under pressure from the Crown on cross-examination, his act collapsed. In a dramatic outburst, the Monster revealed his true intelligence, declaring himself superior to humans and effectively confessing to killing Elizabeth and the De Lacey family.

A shocking outcome

In closing, the defence argued that Jeff鈥檚 actions were the result of neglect and abandonment. If anyone should be held responsible, it was Victor Frankenstein, the irresponsible creator who unleashed him on the world.

The Crown countered that the creature鈥檚 own confession proved he was a conscious and dangerous killer, the epitome of a true monster.

Faced with the unusual case, the judge presented two options to the audience: imprison the creature indefinitely or hold Frankenstein responsible as his legal guardian, releasing Jeff into Sir De Lacey鈥檚 care. By way of thunderous applause, the audience made the verdict clear: Victor would bear responsibility and Jeff would live happily ever after.

Courtroom comedy for a cause

Every fall, the Weldon Literary Moot Society (WLMS) members start brainstorming the moot鈥檚 concept, which is usually related in some way to the Halifax Humanities Society's curriculum. In previous years, students have created problems based on听Cinderella, Hamlet, Alice in Wonderland,听Julius Caesar,听Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and听The Hobbit.

Members vote to select the source material by the end of the fall term, and from January to March, moot participants are recruited, roles are assigned, and the students write the script. After a single table read with the cast, it鈥檚 show time.

听鈥淚 have had the amazing privilege to participate in the Weldon Literary Moot each year of law school 鈥� and every year I am blown away by the dedication of our community,鈥� says WLMS President Chaeyon Lee. 鈥淚t is truly a collaborative effort 鈥� from the students who help write the script, the faculty who embody the characters, the executive team who manage the logistics and organization, the law community who sponsor the event, and the Halifax Humanities who provide their endless support.鈥�

Lee says she is grateful to have taken part in the literary moot as it allowed her to engage in creative writing, comedy, and the arts while in law school. 鈥淚 cannot imagine Schulich Law without it,鈥� she adds. 鈥淚'm looking forward to next year's show, perhaps as an audience member this time!鈥�

The WLMS would like to give a special thanks to Geeta Mudhar (3L) for managing communication with the Halifax Humanities Society, Nathalie Clement (3L) for volunteering at the ticket booth, and to Katie Carline, Interim Director of the Halifax Humanities Society, for the long-time support and for attending this year鈥檚 moot.
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