Days of intense courtroom competition and careful deliberations by esteemed judges culminated on February 15 with an evening awards ceremony and the announcement of the winner of the 2024 Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Mock Trial Competition: Sacramento Country Day School is this year’s champion.
“Together with Teach Democracy, our joint effort is to inspire lifelong civic engagement through interactive programs and resources for teachers and youth,” said Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon. “And we do this work, year after year, because our democracy depends on informed participation by all.”
Twenty-one high school teams participated in the competition, including one from El Dorado County, three from Yolo County, and one from Yuba County. Sacramento Country Day School advances to the California Mock Trial Competition, held March 22–24 in Los Angeles. Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep High School placed second, followed by Rio Americano High School in third and Jesuit High School in fourth.
The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), which coordinates the event, announced the winners at an awards ceremony in the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria downtown after the final and consolation rounds had concluded.
Mock Trial Results
Sacramento County
- 1st Place: Sacramento Country Day School
- 2nd Place: Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep High School (Natomas USD)
- 3rd Place: Rio Americano High School (San Juan USD)
- 4th Place: Jesuit High School (Diocese of Sacramento)
- 5th Place: St. Francis High School (Diocese of Sacramento)
- 6th Place: Elk Grove High School (Elk Grove USD)
- 7th Place: Casa Roble Fundamental High School (San Juan USD)
- 8th Place: Sheldon High School (Elk Grove USD)
El Dorado County
- 1st Place: Ponderosa High School
Yolo County
- 1st Place: Da Vinci Charter School
- 2nd Place: Davis High School
- 3rd Place: River City High School
Yuba County
- 1st Place: Lindhurst High School
About Mock Trial
The Mock Trial Competition simulates a trial-level proceeding in which students portray the roles of pre-trial counsel, prosecuting and defense attorneys, witnesses, court clerks, bailiffs, and jurors before a single presiding judge and two scoring judges. Volunteers from local law firms and other legal organizations served as scoring and presiding judges for the five-day event.
- Sacramento County Mock Trial Champions—historical list of winning teams
About the State Competition
California’s Mock Trial Competition is sponsored by Teach Democracy, a non-profit, non-partisan, community-based organization dedicated to educating America’s young people about the importance of civic participation in a democratic society.