Individual winners and pairings for the Elite 8 Round of the 27th Annual Mock Trial were announced Saturday, February 28, 2009, after four rounds of competition. Mock Trial began February 18. (Photos from ceremony)

Mock Trial involves students arguing cases in front of real judges and scored by real attorneys. The case this year is People v. Lane, an arson case. The event is sponsored by the Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside County Bar Association, and Riverside Superior Court.

The Elite Eight Competition is March 4 at the Riverside Hall of Justice, and Semi-Finals are March 7, followed by the Championship Round and Final Awards Ceremony at the Riverside Historic Courthouse.

The winning team will compete March 20-22 at the California State Mock Trial Competition.

PAIRINGS FOR ELITE EIGHT ROUND

(Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 6:00 p.m., Hall of Justice, Riverside)

Woodcrest Christian (9) vs. Corona HS (13)

Murrieta Valley HS (24) vs. Poly HS (20)

Great Oak HS (28) vs. Centennial HS (25)

King HS (1) vs. Hemet HS (27)

Individual Award Recipients

Outstanding Bailiff:
Anna Seo, Murrieta Valley High School

Outstanding Clerk:
Richard Watson-Embry, Centennial High School

Outstanding Prosecution Pretrial Motion Attorney:
Miranda Ravicz, Palm Springs High School

Outstanding Defense Pretrial Motion Attorney:
Miranda Ravicz, Palm Springs High School
Clint Ulmer, Palo Verde High School

Outstanding Prosecution Witnesses:
Andres Abarca, Temecula Valley High School
Sadi Ali, Centennial High School
Sara Connors, Murrieta Valley High School
Dylan Wanta, Hemet High School

Outstanding Defense Witnesses:
Tierre Henry, Poly High School
Chelsea Norrup, Norco High School
Rex Connor, San Jacinto High School
Teja Henry, Poly High School

Outstanding Prosecution Attorneys:
*Andres Delgadillo, Centennial High School
Barry Lawrence, Hemet High School
Pablo Wudka-Robles, Poly High School

*Won a summer internship with the District Attorney’s Office

Outstanding Defense Attorneys:
Mitchell Podlaha, Palo Verde High School
Sameera Salari, Temecula Valley High School
*Pablo Wudka-Robles, Poly High School

*Won a summer internship with the Public Defender’s Office

Please refer to the list of teams, and find more information on Mock Trial and all RCOE student events at www.rcoe.us/studentevents.

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