Riverside County high school teams are competing in the 30th annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition that began Wednesday, Feb. 6, at regional courts in Indio, Temecula and Riverside. Mock Trial involves students arguing cases in front of real judges and scored by real attorneys. Since 1983, more than 10,000 students have participated in Mock Trial in Riverside County. This year students will argue People vs. Vega. Vega is charged with felony hit-and-run stemming from an accident. The event is sponsored by the Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside County Bar Association and the Riverside Superior Courts. Teams that participated in the first round include those from Hemet, Murrieta Valley, Nuview Bridge Early College, Temecula Valley and Jurupa Valley high schools as well as Chaparral and Great Oak in Temecula; Lakeside in Lake Elsinore, Santiago and Centennial in Corona; Roosevelt in Eastvale; Rancho Verde in Moreno Valley, King, Poly, Arlington and Woodcrest Christian in Riverside; Citrus Hill in Perris; and Paloma Valley in Menifee. The second round will begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Robert Presley Hall of Justice, 4100 Main St., Riverside. Round 3 will be at the same time and place Feb. 20. Round 4 will begin at 9 a.m. Feb. 23, at the Presley Hall of Justice. The awards ceremony to announce Elite Eight teams and Blue Ribbon Award winners will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center. Other rounds being held include: Round 5 — Elite Eight — at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Presley Hall of Justice Semifinal Round — at 9 a.m. March 2 at the Riverside Historic Courthouse Final Round — at 1 p.m. March 2, at the Riverside Historic Courthouse The awards ceremony to announce the first-place team will follow the final round at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. The winning team will represent Riverside County at the California State Mock Trial Competition being held in Sacramento March 22 to 24.
FILE PHOTO In the 2011 Mock Trial, victim Riley Disenhouse of Poly High School is sworn in by bailiff Daley Thomale from Woodcrest Christian High in Riverside.