https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-high-school-students-compete-become-2025-state-mock-trial-championship-team California High School Students Compete to Become 2025 State Mock Trial Championship TeamKaren.Datangel Tue, 03/11/2025 - 16:51 Feature Update (Mar. 17, 2025): Trinity Pacific Christian School in Ventura County will once again represent the state of California as the winner of the statewide finals and will advance to the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Phoenix, Arizona from May 7-10. See results here. Thousands of students all over the state have donned their best suits and public speaking skills as they acted out various roles in the courtroom. Now it’s time to see who takes top honors.  After weeks of competition, students from 32 California counties gear up for this year's finals of the California Mock Trial Competition, which takes place in Los Angeles from March 14-16.  Participants will argue the fictitious kidnapping case People v. Gold. The defendant Logan Gold has been charged with the kidnapping of Taylor Alexander, who is a rival candidate to Gold’s spouse Harper Dorais in a city council race in the rural mountain town of Emerald Bend, California. Gold is the assistant campaign manager to their spouse and is also the sole hotel owner in town. The prosecution argues that Gold had political and financial motives for abducting Alexander. The defense argues that Gold was without a cell phone and GPS tracking the day Alexander was abducted, which was the day of the city council candidate debate. The pretrial issue centers on a defense motion to exclude a potentially incriminating statement made by Gold while in police custody.  Teach Democracy (formerly known as the Constitutional Rights Foundation) created the California Mock Trial Program in 1980. The statewide program stemmed from a successful model in Los Angeles County and helps students acquire a working knowledge of the judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society.  In addition to the mock trials themselves, counties award individual honors to students in courtroom artist and journalist contests.  Check out some highlights from different county competitions in our interactive map below (If you are unable to view the map below, click here). If you wish for your county to be included, contact courtnews@jud.ca.gov with information, photos, and links. California high schools have placed in first or second place four times in the National Mock Trial Competition since 1984. Year School County Place 1989 John Marshall High School Los Angeles 2nd 1994 Arlington High School Riverside 1st 2005 Tamalpais High School Marin 1st 2013 La Reina High School Ventura 2nd https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/judge-marla-o-anderson-retire-bench-judicial-council-leadership Judge Marla O. Anderson to Retire from Bench, Judicial Council LeadershipBalassone, Merrill Fri, 03/15/2024 - 11:12 News Release Judge Marla O. Anderson today announced she will retire on April 30, after serving nearly 30 years as a judge in Monterey County and a decade as a member of the Judicial Council of California, including representing the council in the Capitol as chair of its Legislation Committee. Said California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero: “We are grateful for Judge Anderson’s exceptional leadership and commitment to our judiciary. She has played a crucial role in leading important statewide reforms that have improved the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Californians. Through her tireless commitment to public service, and her personal warmth and compassion, she has made a lasting impact in our judicial branch and the communities we serve.” During her time on the council, Judge Anderson chaired its Legislation Committee, helping to usher in key reforms including the use of remote hearings to preserve access to justice in California courts. Nearly 10,000 civil and criminal hearings are now held remotely around the state each day. Judge Anderson was also instrumental in the statewide eviction moratorium that helped pause evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic; helped create new training for judges on implicit bias; helped draft important legislation to prohibit peremptory challenges from being used to discriminate against potential jurors; worked to negotiate the provisions of the CARE Act and the Racial Justice Act; and advocated for policy changes to address the shortage of court reporters. Said Judicial Council Administrative Director Shelley Curran: "Judge Marla Anderson commands profound respect among her Judicial Council peers, court colleagues, and the Legislature. She has been a collaborative, insightful leader. Her success in helping to guide so many important council initiatives is a testament to her skill and dedication to our justice system.” Judge Anderson also led the council’s Litigation Management Committee, which oversees litigation and claims that raise issues of significance to the judicial branch. She has played a major role in statewide judicial education efforts, serving on education planning workgroups and as faculty for the council’s Center for Judicial Education and Research. Judge Anderson served as dean of the B.E. Witkin Judicial College for new judicial officers from 2013 to 2014 and as assistant dean from 2011 to 2012. Said Judge Anderson: “It has been an honor to wear a robe of service as a judge and a humbling privilege and joy to serve on the Judicial Council of California. It has been an opportunity of a lifetime to serve the public by advancing the cause of an equal, fair, accessible, diverse, and inclusive justice system for all Californians.” Judge Anderson first joined the bench in 1995 in Monterey County after being appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson. Said fellow Judicial Council member and Executive and Planning Committee Chair Administrative Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill: “Judge Anderson’s contributions to our courts statewide have been extraordinary. We will miss her indefatigable spirit, her ready smile, and warm personality. Her tireless efforts as chair of the Legislation Committee, as well as her statewide leadership in a myriad of other areas, has set her apart.” Said Technology Committee Chair Judge Kyle S. Brodie: “Improving access to justice requires strong legislative partnerships, and Judge Anderson has been instrumental in working with the Legislature to protect our ability to conduct remote hearings. When the Legislature has questions about how our courts can best serve all Californians, Judge Anderson steps up to answer. She knows what matters, and she fights for it. She has been a relentlessly powerful champion for our courts, and her contributions will endure long after her well-deserved retirement.” Said Judicial Branch Budget Committee Chair Judge Ann C. Moorman: “Judge Anderson has a unique ability to take difficult issues, break them down into manageable components and then facilitate a candid and intelligent discussion about solutions. I have never in 35 years in the law worked with anyone so adept at building consensus in the midst of a difficult or complex dialogue. She has an unmatched talent in seeing and understanding different perspectives and bringing them together into a unified front going forward. She is articulate in her language, gracious in her tone and unafraid of any perceived obstacle in her demeanor. We are all better listeners, facilitators, and decision-makers for having served with her on the Judicial Council for so many years.” Said Rules Committee Chair Justice Carin T. Fujisaki: “Judge Anderson has been an inspiration to all of us on the Judicial Council. She has shined as chair of the council’s Legislation Committee, working adroitly and energetically to secure passage of legislation that improves the statewide administration of justice.  No matter how thorny or divisive the issue, Judge Anderson was able to achieve optimal results by drilling down on what mattered and closing the gap between opposing interests and factions. In addition to her exceptional leadership in the branch, Judge Anderson's exceptional warmth and thoughtfulness makes her a cherished colleague and friend.” Judicial Council Service: Served on the council since 2014 Chair: Litigation Management Committee; Legislation Committee Member: Executive and Planning Committee; Judicial Branch Budget Committee; Ad Hoc Workgroup on Post-Pandemic Initiatives; Pretrial Reform and Operations Workgroup; and Commission on the Future of California’s Court System. Career on the Bench: In 1995, appointed to the bench by Governor Pete Wilson Served as presiding judge of the Superior Court of Monterey County from 2013 to 2015, and as assistant presiding judge from 2011-2012 https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/visits-local-classrooms-bring-lessons-constitution Visits to Local Classrooms Bring Lessons on the ConstitutionSoltysik, Penne Thu, 10/21/2021 - 15:21 Feature To commemorate Constitution Day, California judges visited classrooms and libraries statewide to deliver lessons on the three branches of government and the role of the courts. The effort supports a year-round drive to foster a better understanding of the judicial branch among students and teachers.   In San Bernardino County, Judge John Pacheco coordinated an event for Yucaipa High School’s Law and Public Safety Academy with the help of the Inland Empire American Board of Trial Advocates. Students were addressed virtually by a special  guest, California Supreme Court Justice Martin Jenkins.  In Santa Clara County, the court coordinated a virtual event where judicial officers met with  over 1,500 fifth graders in 21 schools to discuss the history and importance of the Constitution. The court also recorded a presentation on the Constitution for educators who couldn't participate in the live event. (View on YouTube)  Judges are encouraged to develop and participate in local community outreach programs under California’s Rules of Court. In several courts including Santa Clara, an internal committee maintains a strong relationship with local schools with events scheduled throughout the year.   “Our court is proud of our strong partnerships with the County Office of Education, and with the executive and legislative branches of government. Together, we have been able to connect with thousands of students, helping to educate our next generation of civic-minded leaders," said Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Audra Ibarra.    In Monterey County, ten bench officers visited classrooms virtually and in-person as guest teachers. Judge Marla Anderson visited a classroom at Highland Elementary, just four miles from her courtroom. Her colleague, Judge Sam Lavorato traveled to the Salinas Valley to visit with students at Sacred Heart School. Echo Valley Elementary, also in Salinas, received a visit from Monterey County Judge Vanessa Vallarta.  "When I switched to a bilingual presentation (English to Spanish), the students were immediately surprised, and much more engaged. They were excited and surprised to see that not only was I capable, but that I was interested in making sure they understood what I was saying by talking to them in their native language," she reported after her visit.    When classrooms moved to remote learning at the start of the pandemic, judges across the state stepped forward to bring their special skills to California online classrooms. Judges conducted more than 150 visits remotely for the 2020-2021 school term. Judges in Los Angeles and Butte counties translated Judges in the Classroom lessons to reach limited-English speaking students. Judges currently have access to lessons in English, Mandarin, and Spanish.  Visits to schools are available year-round. For more information, visit judgesintheclassroom.org