LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Middletown High School Mock Trial team has been named the 2025 Lake County Mock Trial Champion and will represent the county at the California Mock Trial State Finals, to be held March 14 to 16 in Los Angeles.

The team will compete against top-performing schools from across the state, demonstrating their legal knowledge, courtroom skills, and ability to think on their feet in a rigorous, real-world legal setting.

Students on the Middletown team are Kamala Goldberg Covell, Danielle Gearhart, Logan Johnson, Maddison Lighter, Victoria Mendoza, Nala Mongomery, Lily Morita, Gabriella Neylon, My Nguyen, Caelyn Ochs, James Reynolds, Damien Rudy, Shaylee Rudy, Sirus Rudy, Sydney Ryon, Mikah Smith, Ren Ueno and Ruby Weatherwax.

The Lake County Mock Trial competition, supported by the Lake County Office of Education, brings together high school students to engage in a simulated criminal trial, where they take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, clerks and bailiffs.

“Mock Trial is more than a competition — it is an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork skills that will serve them well in future careers,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

At the California Mock Trial State Finals, Middletown High will face off against teams from 34 other counties in a highly competitive setting at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, where students will present their cases before judges and experienced attorneys.

The California Mock Trial program has been preparing students for civic engagement and legal careers for over 40 years.

Participants gain hands-on experience in the justice system, learn about constitutional rights, and develop confidence in their ability to analyze complex information, present arguments persuasively and collaborate effectively under pressure.

The Lake County Office of Education has long supported the Mock Trial program as part of its commitment to career and college readiness.

By engaging students in realistic courtroom scenarios, the program fosters leadership, ethics and communication skills.

For more information about the California Mock Trial State Finals, visit TeachDemocracy.org. To learn more about the Lake County Mock Trial program, visit lakecoe.org.