LAKEPORT, Calif. – After nearly a year and a half of laying the groundwork, the new Lake County Mock Trial Competition is set to have its inaugural event next week.
Two Mock Trial sessions will take place on Friday, March 1 – a court furlough day – in Lake County Superior Court, on the fourth floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., in Lakeport.
The public is invited to attend.
Stephanie Wayment, educational specialist with the Lake County Office of Education, said two local schools – Middletown High School and Upper Lake High School – will compete, with the winner moving forward to the state competition.
Wayment said the Mock Trial sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., with Judge Richard Martin and Judge Michael Lunas each presiding over a session.
In late 2011, the Lake County Superior Court and Lake County Office of Education partnered to bring the program to Lake County, as Lake County News has reported.
The Constitutional Rights Foundation introduced the Mock Trial program to all the counties in California in 1980, according to the foundation's Web site, www.crf-usa.org/mock-trial-program/mock-trial-program.html .
Participating students learn about the judicial system, build their analytical and communications skills, and improve their knowledge of social science and history, the foundation reported.
In January, District Attorney Don Anderson made a donation to the competition – through his Alternative to Community Service program – to support the winning team's travel to Riverside for the state competition.
The Lake County Office of Education reported that Anderson's donation – along with other local contributions – will make it possible for the winning students to make the trip to Southern California.
To send a donation to support the winning local team at the state level competition, contact the Lake County Office of Education, Attn: Mock Trial program, 1152 S. Main St., Lakeport CA 95453, or contact Wayment at 707-262-4163, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.