RivCo Mock Trials: High Schools Battle It Out In The Courtroom

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — High schools from across Riverside County will begin their quest to earn the title as winner of the 43rd annual mock trial competition. About 24 schools will compete for the chance to win the legal battle by participating as legal teams for both the prosecution and defense in courtrooms across the county, said County Superintendent of Schools, Edwin Gomez.

Poly High School in Riverside won the county's 2024 contest.

"Mock trial has a rich history in Riverside County with practicing attorneys, sitting judges and current legal professionals who credit their experience with mock trial with instilling a passion for the law at an early age," Gomez said. "We look forward to seeing the future leaders of our justice system in action throughout the multiple rounds of competition in our county courtrooms."
The event will be at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta and the Riverside Hall of Justice, continuing until the last weekend in February for the semifinal and final rounds.

Meets are not open to the general public, except by special permission of the Superior Court or Office of Education, he said.

The contest, which regularly draws about 400 students for the initial rounds, returned to in-person activities instead of virtual ones in 2023 after the public school system rescinded COVID-driven restrictions on gatherings that were in place during the 2021 and 2022 events. The 2020 competition happened prior to the school closures.

The Office of Education, in partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Riverside County Bar Association, and the Superior Court, sponsors the competitions annually. The county began having student-level mock trials in 1983, and organizers say more than 14,000 youths have participated since then.

This year's contest will challenge participants to successfully argue the fictitious case of People v. Gold, involving an alleged kidnapping amid a heated local political race in the make-believe community of Emerald Bend, California. The defendant, Logan Gold, is accused of abducting his wife's rival candidate in a City Council election to ensure the victim would not appear for a scheduled debate.

Students will be tasked with analyzing forensic evidence, admissibility of statements, possible due process infringements, and other matters during the trials.

Teams consisting of eight to 25 students will play the parts of deputy district attorneys, defense attorneys, bailiffs, witnesses, clerks, and investigators. Contestants are given an allotted time, generally four to six minutes, at each stage of a proceeding, including opening and closing statements and cross-examinations.

Practicing attorneys and judges assess students' performance, awarding points in accordance with criteria established for the contest.

Students from public and private high schools may take part.

The 2025 championship team will represent the county in the California Mock Trial Competition, tentatively scheduled for March 14-16 in Los Angeles.