More than 500 students from 25 Riverside County high schools will compete in the 29th Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition beginning February 9 at regional courts in Indio, Murrieta 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. Woodson, a case involving an assault with a deadly weapon and cyber bullying. The event is sponsored by the Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside County Bar Association, and the Riverside Superior Courts.

The pairings for Round 1 of the competition to be held February 9 include:

Desert - Larson Justice Center, 46-200 Oasis Street, Indio

Prosecution: Xavier College Preparatory (4)
vs.
Defense: Indio HS

Prosecution: La Quinta HS (1)
vs.
Defense: Marywood Palm Valley

Prosecution: Palm Desert HS (23)
vs.
Defense: Palo Verde Valley HS

Southwest - Southwest Justice Center, 30755-D Auld Road, Temecula, CA 92563

Prosecution: West Valley HS (15)
vs.
Defense: Great Oak HS

Prosecution: Hemet HS (6)
vs.
Defense: Murrieta Valley HS

Prosecution: Chaparral HS (5)
vs.
Defense: Temescal Canyon HS

Prosecution: Temecula Valley HS (10)
vs.
Defense: Lakeside HS

Riverside - Robert Presley Hall of Justice, 4100 Main Street, Riverside

Prosecution: Centennial HS Red (25)
vs.
Defense: Paloma Valley HS

Prosecution: Citrus Hill HS (22)
vs.
Defense: Arlington HS

Prosecution: Jurupa Valley HS (24)
vs.
Defense: Woodcrest Christian HS

Prosecution: Norco HS (7)
vs.
Defense: King HS

Prosecution: Centennial HS Black (2)
vs.
Defense: North HS

Prosecution: Santiago HS (26)
vs.
Defense: Poly HS

Other rounds are scheduled as follows:

Round 2 – Wednesday, February 16, 2011 – 6:00 p.m., Presley Hall of Justice

Round 3 – Wednesday, February 23, 2011 – 6:00 p.m., Presley Hall of Justice

Round 4 – Saturday, February 26, 2011 – 9:00 a.m., Presley Hall of Justice

Round 5 – Elite Eight – Wednesday, March 2, 2011 – 6:00 p.m., Presley Hall of Justice

Semi-Final Round – Saturday, March 5, 2011 – 9:00 a.m., Riverside Historic Courthouse

Final Round – Saturday, March 5, 2011 – 1:00 p.m., Riverside Historic Courthouse

The Awards Ceremony to announce the Elite Eight teams and Blue Ribbon Award Winners will be held Saturday, February 26, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at the Riverside Convention Center.

The Awards Ceremony to announce the First Place team will be held Saturday, March 5, 2011, at 3:30 p.m. at the Riverside Historic Courthouse.

The winning team will go on to represent Riverside County at the California State Mock Trial Competition to be held in Riverside March 25-27, 2011.

For information contact:
Rick Peoples
Telephone: (951) 826-6642
Fax: (951) 826-6199
rpeoples@rcoe.us