Top Eight High School Teams Advance to Mock Trial Quarterfinals, Individual Honors and Internships Awarded

RIVERSIDE – After four rounds of competition, legal teams from eight local high schools have advanced to the “Elite Eight” of the 43^rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial Competition to be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Riverside Hall of Justice (4100 Main Street, Riverside). The semi-finals will be held on Thursday, February 13, and the 2025 champion will be named after the final round on Tuesday, February 18. The final round will take place at 6 p.m. at the Riverside Historic Courthouse (4050 Main Street, Riverside).

“Elite Eight” Round

Additionally, more than a dozen students were honored for top performances with blue ribbons and prestigious internships in local legal organizations after the fourth round of competition on Saturday, February 8.

“Mock trial has a rich history in Riverside County with practicing attorneys, sitting judges, and current legal professionals who credit their experience in mock trial with instilling a passion for the law at an early age,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Congratulations to the award-winning students and top eight teams advancing to the remaining rounds of competition in our county courtrooms.”

Mock Trial involves students arguing cases in front of real judges, while being scored by practicing attorneys. The 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 courtroom roles of defense and prosecution attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and more. 

2025 Riverside County Mock Trial Competition
BLUE RIBBON AWARD RECIPIENTS

 Outstanding Courtroom Artist

1st Place – Gold Medal: Joni Huang, Murrieta Valley High School2nd Place – Silver Medal: Mika Walters, Chaparral High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Gabriella Jablonski, Notre Dame High School

Outstanding Courtroom Journalist

1st Place – Gold Medal: Dylan Artiaga, Chaparral High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Norah Rose Sachs, John W. North High School

Outstanding Bailiff

1st Place – Gold Medal: Sarai Gonzalez, San Jacinto High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Jonathan Medrano, Notre Dame High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Diego Coronado, Centennial High School

Outstanding Clerk

1st Place – Gold Medal: Quinten Crane, Chaparral High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Katherine Marker, Paloma Valley High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Josiah de Jesus, John W. North High School

Outstanding Defense Pretrial Motion Attorney

1st Place – Gold Medal: Renee Dunn, Santiago High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Isadora Alfonso Humeres, Temecula Valley High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Grace Mankin, Notre Dame High School

Outstanding Prosecution Pretrial Motion Attorney

1st Place – Gold Medal: Adrian Reyes, Notre Dame High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Jayden Najera, Vista Del Lago High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Claire Todd, Murrieta Valley High School

Outstanding Prosecution Witnesses

Witness: Deputy Riley Kim
1st Place – Gold Medal: Christopher Persechini, Chaparral High School2nd Place – Silver Medal: Dahlia Perez, Paloma Valley High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Corrie Ulovec, Murrieta Valley High School

Witness: Taylor Alexander
1st Place – Gold Medal: Caitlyn Cohen, John W. North High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Claire Hillebrand, Paloma Valley High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Valentina Johnson, Chaparral High School

Witness: Dr. Rae Forrest
1st Place – Gold Medal: Angel Navarette, La Quinta High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Bethel Able, Chaparral High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Nabil Yacoub, Centennial High School

Witness: Ali Sandoval
1st Place – Gold Medal: Penelope Ibarra, Chaparral High School2nd Place – Silver Medal: Oscar Reyes, Paloma Valley High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Greyson Stoyanowski, Santiago High School

Outstanding Defense Witnesses

Defendant: Logan Gold
1st Place – Gold Medal: Madison Mendoza, Notre Dame High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Alejandra Montemayor, Paloma Valley High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Andrew Garcia, Vista Del Lago High School

Witness: Harper Dorais
1st Place – Gold Medal: Coral Thorton, Vista del Lago High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Grace Ortiz, Temecula Valley High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Xavier Felix, Notre Dame High School

Witness: Dr. Kody Palmer
1st Place – Gold Medal: Minh Lai, Notre Dame High School
2nd Place – Silver Medal: Alia Duckworth, Martin Luther King High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Avarie LaMothe, Heritage High School

Witness: C.J. Costly
1st Place – Gold Medal: Evie Ruvalcaba, Martin Luther King High School2nd Place – Silver Medal: Nicole Munoz, San Jacinto High School
3rd Place – Bronze Medal: Batool Asari, John W. North High School

Outstanding Prosecution Attorneys

Rahm Braslaw**, John W. North High SchoolKayla Hancock, San Jacinto High School
Melissa Chai, Chaparral High School

** Winner of summer internship in District Attorney’s Office and Riverside County Bar Foundation’s Honorable Douglas E. Weathers Scholarship

Outstanding Defense Attorneys

Kayla Copeland***, Santa Rosa Academy
Emily Weldon, Chaparral High School
Julie Morton, Temecula Valley High School

*** Winner of summer internship with the Public Defender’s Office and Riverside County Bar Foundation’s Honorable Douglas E. Weathers Scholarship 

Attorneys, judges, and legal professionals from across Riverside County are among the more than 14,000 students who have participated in Mock Trial now in its 43rd year of competition. The month-long competition is sponsored by Riverside County Superior Courts, the Riverside County Bar Association, and the Riverside County Office of Education.

The winner of the Riverside County Mock Trial will represent the region at the California Mock Trial Competition March 14-16 in Los Angeles. The state winner will advance to the National Mock Trial that will be held May 7-10 in Phoenix, Arizona.    

This year’s fictional case materials provide the facts and legal background for this year's trial, People v. Gold. Taylor Alexander accused Logan Gold, husband to the woman competing against Alexander, of kidnapping her. The case centers around using evidence related to ligature marks, a positive drug test, motive, matching tire marks, and incriminating statements from Gold to build a case. However, the defense argues that the prosecutors cannot use Gold’s involuntary statements because they could be considered self-incriminating—a violation of Gold’s Fifth Amendment.

In the 2024 Riverside County Mock Trial finals, Poly High School defeated Notre Dame High School to secure the championship for the twentieth time in school history. Third place was shared by Martin Luther King High School and Chaparral High School.

For a complete listing of the schedules and locations for all rounds of the competition, visit the Mock Trial page.