News Release
Twenty-one local high schools will participate in the 2023 Ventura County Mock Trial competition, which is returning in person to the Ventura County Courthouse on Monday, February 6. Mock Trial brings courtroom drama to life as students take on the roles of participants in a criminal case, including attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, and journalists. The students will present their cases in real courtrooms before actual local judges who volunteer for the competition. Local attorneys serve as coaches.
WHAT: 2023 Ventura County Mock Trial
WHEN: The competition runs Monday, February 6 to Thursday, February 9. The final round on Thursday is open to the media. Competition begins each evening at 5:00 pm and is expected to conclude by 11:00 pm.
- Monday, February 6 – Rounds 1 and 2
- Tuesday, February 7 – Rounds 3 and 4
- Wednesday, February 8 – Semi-finals
- Thursday, February 9 – Finals – OPEN TO MEDIA
WHERE: Ventura County Superior Court – 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, California 93009
CHECK-IN: Members of the media are asked to check in at the registration desk upon arrival.
New Middle School Competition Added
For the first time, the competition has been expanded to include local middle schools. Five Ventura County middle schools are fielding teams, which will compete on February 8 and 9.
Awards Ceremony
The Mock Trial awards ceremony will be held on Friday, February 10 at the Ventura County Office of Education at 5100 Adolfo Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012 and media coverage is welcomed.
More about the 2023 Ventura County Mock Trial
The Mock Trial competition is coordinated annually by the Ventura County Office of Education. This year’s fictitious case is People v. Franks, which is about an altercation between two actors who are performing on a cruise ship.
High schools participating this year are:
- Adolfo Camarillo High School
- Agoura High School
- Buena High School
- Channel Islands High School
- Fillmore High School
- Grace Brethren School
- La Reina High School
- Newbury Park High School
- Nordhoff High School
- Oak Park High School
- Oaks Christian School
- Rio Mesa High School
- Royal High School
- Saint Bonaventure High School
- Santa Paula High School
- Santa Susana High School
- St. Augustine Academy
- Thousand Oaks High School
- Trinity Pacific Christian School
- Ventura High School
- Westlake High School
Middle schools participating this year are:
- Isbell Middle School
- Las Colinas Middle School
- Mesa Union School
- Monte Vista Middle School
- Trinity Pacific Christian School
The winning high school team will go on to the state Mock Trial contest which takes place in Los Angeles in March. Ventura County has taken first place at the state level in 2021, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2008.
This year’s Ventura County Mock Trial logo artwork was created by Javi Tontoco from Newbury Park High School. Additional information about the 2023 Ventura County Mock Trial is available at vcoe.org/mocktrial.
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