RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Poly High School of Riverside will represent Riverside County in the California Mock Trial Competition next month after prevailing in the county-level contest for the 21st time.
Poly High topped Riverside’s Notre Dame High last week to take the championship title in the 43rd annual Riverside County Mock Trial Competition.
The Poly High team will go on to the state meet, slated for March 14- 16 in Los Angeles.
“Congratulations to the student competitors … who all have a very bright future ahead of them — whether that is in the legal field, in higher education, or in their professional pursuits,” county Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said. “I look forward to seeing Poly High School once again represent Riverside County at the state competition.”
Notre Dame High was awarded the second place trophy, while Murrieta Valley High and Temecula High shared third prize after the semifinal and final rounds concluded on Tuesday.
The Office of Education, in partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Riverside County Bar Association and the Superior Court, sponsor the competitions annually. They generally draw more than 400 participants. The county began holding student-level mock trials in 1983. More than 14,000 youths have participated since then, organizers said.
This year’s contest challenged students 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, was accused of abducting his wife’s rival candidate in a city council election to prevent the victim from appearing for a scheduled debate.
Students were 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 played the parts of deputy district attorneys, defense attorneys, bailiffs, witnesses, clerks and investigators. Contestants were given an allotted time, generally four to six minutes, at each stage of a proceeding, including opening statements, closing arguments and cross-examinations.
Practicing attorneys and judges assessed students’ performance, awarding points in accordance with criteria established for the contest.
Students from public and private high schools are permitted to take part.
Poly High also won the county’s 2024 contest. Its teams consistently make it into the semifinals.
