Students advance to virtual state competition after securing first Riverside County Mock Trial championship since 2018
RIVERSIDE – After the virtual gavel sounded in the online courtroom at the 39th Annual Riverside County Mock Trial Championships on Saturday, February 27, Martin Luther King High School from the Riverside Unified School District was named the champion for the third time in school history.
King High School advances to the 2021 California State Mock Trial Championship set to take place virtually from March 19-21. They will vie for a chance to compete at the National Mock Trial Competition set for May 13-15 in Evansville, Indiana.
In the semifinal round held earlier on Saturday February 27, King High School defeated Notre Dame High School and Chaparral High School (Temecula Valley Unified School District) advanced by dispatching returning champion, Poly High School (Riverside Unified School District).
The month-long competition featured 20 schools and nearly 400 students. Due to pandemic restrictions on crowds, all mock trial competitions for 2021 were held virtually. Mock Trial involves students arguing simulated cases in front of real judges, and scored by practicing attorneys. The multi-round competition is open to all students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in public and private high schools in Riverside County. Teams consist of 8-25 students filling the virtual courtroom roles of defense and prosecution attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and more. (See Final Four press release for list of honors and internships awarded after Round 5 competition.)
This year’s competition features students trying the fictional case of People vs. Croddy. Lee Croddy, who hosts a popular YouTube channel called The Right Choice of News (RCN), is being charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of first-degree burglary by another and accessory after the fact.
Riverside County Mock Trial Historical Results
2021 – Martin Luther King High School
2020 – Poly High School
2019 – Poly High School
2018 – Martin Luther King High School
2017 – Poly High School
2016 – Poly High School
2015 – Hemet High School
2014 – Poly High School
2013 – Poly High School
2012 – Poly High School
2011 – Poly High School
2010 – Woodcrest Christian High School
2009 – Poly High School
2008 – Temecula Valley High School
2007 – Martin Luther King High School
2006 – Woodcrest Christian High School
2005 – Poly High School
2004 – Poly High School
2003 – Poly High School
2002 – Poly High School
2001 – Arlington High School
2000 – John W. North High School
1999 – Woodcrest Christian High School
1998 – Temecula Valley High School
1997 – Corona High School
1996 – Poly High School
1995 – Norte Vista High School
1994 – Arlington High School**
1993 – Arlington High School
1992 – Poly High School
1991 – Poly High School
1990 – Poly High School
1989 – John W. North High School
1988 – Poly High School
1987 – Poly High School
1986 – John W. North High School
1985 – Ramona High School
1984 – Ramona High School
1983 – Perris High School