LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Mock Trial Program is returning for its second year, with teams gearing up from a January scrimmage and the main competition event in February.
The Mock Trial event was first held last year, after many community members and local officials – from judges to deputy district attorneys, private attorneys and educators – spent more than a year laying the groundwork, as Lake County News has reported.
Stephanie Wayment of the Lake County Office of Education, who works on the Mock Trial Competition, reported that once again this year Middletown High School and Upper Lake High School will take part.
Last year, Middletown won the inaugural Mock Trial Competition, which took place March 1 at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.
This year, the teams will compete in their first scrimmage on Thursday, Jan. 16, in the Clearlake Courthouse, with the official Lake County Competition taking place on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the courthouse in Lakeport.
The Lake County Superior Court and Lake County Office of Education partnered to bring the Mock Trial Program to Lake County.
It offers students the chance to argue cases before real judges, in real courtrooms, with the winners having the chance to go on the state competition. State winners may go on to compete at the national level.
The program was first introduced in 1980 in California by the Constitutional Rights Foundation in order to educate students about the judicial system.
At the same time, it helps students to develop analytical and communication skills, and understand their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of society.
The foundation reported that 36 counties now participate.
The teams from the two local high schools work with teacher coaches and local attorneys to learn the materials and the rules in a courtroom.
Thanks to local donations, including a donation from the District Attorney’s Alternative to Community Service program, the winning Lake County high school team, will be able to travel to the state competition which is held in San Jose this year, Wayment reported.
“This is a great program that introduces students to the legal system. We are glad to be able to support our local youth,” said District Attorney Don Anderson.
Wayment said the Lake County Office of Education is very grateful to all of the local attorneys and deputy district attorneys who have partnered with the local teams and supported the youth.
She said donations are being sought to help support the winning team’s expenses at the state level competition.
For more information or to send a donation to support the state level competition, contact the Lake County Office of Education, Attn: Mock Trial Program, 1152 S. Main St., Lakeport CA 95453 or contact Stephanie 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.