PLEASANT HILL, Calif. — The 45th Annual Contra Costa County Mock Trial Program officially kicked off on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Over the next several weeks, the A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez will host seven evenings of competition as high school students transform into attorneys, witnesses, and courtroom staff. This year, 20 high schools will participate, showcasing their advocacy skills before panels of current and retired judges and more than 100 legal professionals who volunteer as scorers.
Each evening’s competition features multiple courtroom sessions staffed by volunteer judges and attorney scorers, including prosecutors, public defenders, corporate attorneys, paralegals, legal scholars, and former Mock Trial participants. Trials are overseen by practicing or retired judges, commissioners, or veteran attorneys. With some volunteer spots still available, legal professionals can be a part of this year’s program.
Organized by the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE), the Mock Trial Program gives students hands-on experience with the justice system, helping them build analytical thinking, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of courtroom procedures. This year’s case, People v. FromHolz, centers on Haley Fromholz—a chef and contestant on the reality cooking show Recipe for Success—who is accused of killing celebrity judge Morgan Sears with poisonous “heartstopper” mushrooms during the show’s semi-final round. Students will argue charges of first-degree murder and, alternatively, involuntary manslaughter.
Throughout the season, teams work closely with teachers and volunteer trial coaches as they prepare their arguments. Students take on roles such as attorneys, witnesses, clerks, bailiffs, artists, and journalists. Judges and attorneys evaluate each performance and offer immediate feedback, with teams advancing through seven rounds of competition. The top two teams will face off in the county finals on Tuesday, February 17. The winning team will represent Contra Costa County at the California State Mock Trial competition, taking place March 20-22 in Oakland. The state champion team will move on to the National Mock Trial Competition later this year.
Participating Contra Costa County high schools include:
- Acalanes High (Lafayette)
- Alhambra High (Martinez)
- Athenian (Danville)
- California High (San Ramon)
- Campolindo High (Moraga)
- Carondelet High (Concord)
- Clayton Valley High (Concord)
- College Park High (Pleasant Hill)
- De Anza High (Richmond)
- Deer Valley High (Antioch)
- Dougherty Valley High (San Ramon),
- El Cerrito High (El Cerrito)
- Hercules High (Hercules)
- Heritage High (Brentwood)
- Las Lomas High (Walnut Creek)
- Making Waves Academy, (Richmond)
- Miramonte High (Orinda)
- Monte Vista High (Danville)
- Richmond High (Richmond)
- San Ramon Valley High (San Ramon)
Schedule for 2026 Contra Costa County High School Mock Trials:
- Preliminaries: January 27, 29; February 3, 5 – 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Quarterfinals: February 10, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Semifinals: February 11, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Finals & Consolation Round: February 17, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Mock Trial Awards: February 19, 5:30 p.m. (Floyd Marchus School, 2900 Avon Ave, Concord, CA 94520)
The California Mock Trial Program currently involves more than 8,000 student participants from 36 counties.
About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,261 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of the county’s most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county’s 287 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.