Finals Team Information - Constitutional Rights Foundation

Finals Team Information

GENERAL COMPETITION INFORMATION | TEAM INFORMATION | COUNTY COORDINATOR INFORMATION

Courtroom Art Contest | Courtroom Journalist Contest

Congratulations and welcome to the 31st Annual California Mock Trial Finals. The Mock Trial Program is sponsored by Constitutional Rights Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation that has developed law and business-related educational programs in Los Angeles for over 50 years. The program is co-sponsored by the California Bar Foundation, Daily Journal Corporation, The Lincy Foundation , and Lisa Sardegna and David Carrillo.

From March 23 through March 25, you and your students will be very busy with trials and other activities. Please impress upon your students the importance of cooperation, consideration and courtesy while they enjoy their stay in Sacramento. As ambassadors both for your county and for CRF, your students will be making lasting impressions wherever they go–let’s be sure that they are positive ones! It is recommended that every ten students be accompanied by one adult who will be responsible for the team’s participation and supervision. It is imperative that these adults be responsible and prepared to handle supervision of their students AT ALL TIMES. Additionally, we expect that your team members will act with the utmost integrity, exhibiting honorable qualities of fairness and good sportsmanship throughout all phases of the competition.

Teams will register for the state competition online. Please review all the information regarding the California Mock Trial Finals with your students and complete the following steps:

Step One: Only teachers should register the school. All winning teams will need to complete Team Registration and the Student Registration section. If your county is sending a courtroom artist or journalist, they must complete the Student Registration section on our web site. If the winning school and students have already registered as a 2011-2012 mock trial participant on CRF's website, they will not need to register again.

Step Two: Review Team Information, General Competition Information, and State Finals Checklist

Step Three: Reserve hotel by beginning March 3 directly with the Sheraton Grand Hotel, (916) 341-3601.

Step Four: Return Parental Permission Slips and Team Entry Fee Form to CRF by March 7. Please mail or scan all of the permission slips together. This prevents individual slips from getting lost.

Step Five:Bring copies of the following forms to each trial: Observer, Time Sheet, Award Nomination, Clerk and Bailiff Notes, Case Packet and California Mock Trial Competition Team Rulebook

NOTE: Parental permission slips do not replace school permission forms and should be used in addition to whatever is required by your school. Please return all necessary forms promptly. A $25.00 late fee will be assessed for all forms received after March 7. Forms should be returned to: CRF, Mock Trial Program, 601 South Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90005, Fax: (213) 386-0459

IMPORTANT COURTHOUSE REMINDERS

Failure to follow any of the instructions below may disqualify your school from the competition

All students, family, and friends MUST be quiet while in the hallways as many courtrooms are still in session and are conducting official business.
Please respect the courtroom. Many judges and clerks no longer allow mock trial students to use their courtrooms as in the past, items have been moved and not replaced. To ensure that future mock trial students can utilize the courtrooms, please do not touch or take anything that does not belong to you.
You must leave the room in its original condition and ensure all furniture and courtroom items are replaced to their original positions (please do not adjust chair heights or disturb court papers). Each team must complete an observer form and return to the presider or to CRF immediately following each trial.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES may you enter the judges’ chambers.
Please note that not every courtroom will have a jury box, podium or easel.
Please do not bring to the courthouse a change of clothing or extra pair of shoes, any swiss army knives, aerosol hairspray, scissors, knitting needles, metal finger files, screwdrivers, tools, wallet chains, handcuff keys, or any items that may be possibly used as a weapon.
Every team is required to designate one ADULT to serve as Observer/Chaperone for each round. Please fill out the courtroom observer form.
Courthouse guards will not open rooms until the Observer is present and has checked the courtroom.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Competition rules and guidelines for behavior must be followed.
Pack lightly, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a sweater or jacket.
Label belongings and luggage with name and address.
Do not bring valuables or large amounts of money. Neither CRF nor your hotel is responsible for lost or stolen articles.
Remember to eat regularly and drink plenty of water! The quality of your experience and performance is directly linked to your nutritional balance.

ENTRY FEES

In order to avoid confusion and save time, please read the following fee instructions closely and return payment with the Team Entry Fee Form. Complete the fee form CAREFULLY. If you have any questions, please call Carlos Ramos at (213) 316-2129.

Student Fees

Each student participating in the 2012 California Mock Trial Finals pays a fee of $75.00. This fee covers the cost of materials, facility rentals, one T-shirt per student, an official 2012 California Mock Trial certificate, and admission to the student social and the dance. The $75.00 registration fee is mandatory for every student on your county’s official Roster (this includes regular team members, alternates, artist, and journalist). A $25.00 late fee will be assessed for all forms received after March 7.

Waiving of Fees

For every judge or attorney volunteer that your team brings to Sacramento, the fees for one participant will be waived. These legal volunteers must participate in at least three rounds each to make your county eligible for a fee waiver. While there is no maximum number of volunteers from your county that may participate, we are only able to waive up to three fees ($225.00 maximum).

National High School Mock Trials

$5.00 of each of the $75.00 fees will help defray the costs of the county representing California at the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The championship will be held this year in Albuquerque, NM, May 4-7, 2012.

FORMS

Please bring the following to each trial:

A copy of the case
Observer
Time Sheet
Award Nomination (four copies per trial)
Clerk and Bailiff Notes
California Mock Trial Competition Team Rulebook
Guidelines for Behavior

LEGISLATORS

Mock Trial funding depends heavily on the support of the state government and to ensure the continued success of the program we urge each school to contact their state legislators with information about your county’s competition results. The fact that you are participating in the State Finals is an accomplishment to be commended. How to Write a Letter to Your Legislator

FUNDRAISING PACKET

The fundraising packet includes tips to help you formulate ideas on how to raise money you to participate in the Mock Trial Program. Many students have used the tips included in the packet with great success.

MOCK TRIAL ADULT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Any adult who meets the requirements below and who has demonstrated exemplary dedication and commitment to the youth of California through participation in CRF’s Mock Trial Program, may be nominated for the Mock Trial Adult Advocate of the Year Award. Each nominee must have (1) a minimum of 5 years of mock trial involvement, (2) demonstration of a capacity to inspire learning and to motivate, and (3) has a history of emphasizing good sportsmanship and citizenship skills.

After reviewing all nominations, CRF will select the winner. The winner will receive a plaque and will be recognized at Awards Ceremony on Sunday, March 25. All nomination forms should include at least three letters of recommendation from parents, students, faculty, attorneys, judges, or anyone else involved in the Mock Trial Program. The deadline for submitting a nomination is March 7. Please submit the Adult Advocate nomination form to: Constitutional Rights Foundation, Mock Trial Program, 601 South Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90005 or by e.mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .