Local high schools to compete in County Mock Trial event

All four Menifee high schools will compete beginning Tuesday in the annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition, organized by the Riverside County Office of Education.

In the competition, students argue cases in front of real judges and are scored by practicing attorneys. Teams consist of 8-25 students filling the roles of defense and prosecution attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and more. The competition lasts through multiple rounds over the next month.

According to a news release from RCOE, “This year’s fictional case materials provide the facts and legal background for this year's trial, People v. Gold. Taylor Alexander accused Logan Gold, husband to the woman competing against Alexander, of kidnapping her. The case centers around using evidence related to ligature marks, positive drug test, motive, matching tire marks, and incriminating statements from Gold to build a case. However, the defense argues that the prosecutors cannot use Gold’s involuntary statements because they could be considered self-incriminating—a violation of Gold’s Fifth Amendment.”

The final competition will be held on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Riverside Historic Courthouse (4050 Main Street, Riverside).

A team from Heritage High School will compete against Notre Dame High on Tuesday at the Robert Presley Hall of Justice in Riverside. At the same location, Liberty High will oppose Martin Luther King.

At the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Paloma Valley High School will compete against Santa Rosa Academy.