Riverside County High Schools Prepare For Mock Trials: What To Know

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — In January, mock trial teams from high schools across Riverside County will argue the fictional case, People Vs. Clark, revolving around the murder of a chief executive from a medical company and a plot to commit corporate fraud.

This will be the 43rd time the Mock Trials have been argued, sponsored by Riverside County Office of Education.

The event is slated to begin on Jan. 21, 2025 at three separate courtrooms: the Larson Justice Center in Indio, the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, and the Riverside Hall of Justice. Each competition round will continue until the last week of February, when the semi-final and final rounds will be held.

The competition is open to all students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in Riverside County public and private high schools. Teams consist of eight to 25 students filling the courtroom roles of defense and prosecution attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and more. According to the RivCo Office of Education, approximately 400 students are expected to participate.

Sitting judges will hear each mock trial, and each student team will be rated by practicing attorneys.

The event returned to in-person meets instead of virtual ones in 2023 after the public school system rescinded COVID-driven restrictions on gatherings that were in place during the 2021 and 2022 events.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 was held before the school closures were initiated.

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 holding student-level mock trials in 1983. More than 14,000 youths have participated since then, organizers said.

During the mock trial, students will analyze forensic evidence, the legality of warrants, possible due process infringements, and other matters.

The 2025 championship team will represent the county in the California Mock Trial Competition, which will take place March 14-16 in Los Angeles.

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

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