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                Allegations of arson and inciting to riot will be argued by students from 16 local high schools when the 27th annual Kern County Mock Trial season begins with preliminary round competitions in Bakersfield, Delano and Mojave Superior Courts of California on Nov. 5 and 19, Dec. 10 and Jan. 14, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. each night.

            Teams accumulate points in the preliminary rounds that determine their placement in the “Super Saturday” finals from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 on Jan. 20, in Kern County Superior Court, 1415 Truxtun Ave. in Bakersfield. The winning team goes on to represent Kern County in the state competition in Riverside on March 20—22.

            The public is invited to any of the mock trials where teams prosecute and defend a fictitious case prepared by the Constitutional Rights Foundation that is argued in all competitions leading up to and including the National Mock Trial. This year’s case of People v. Lane deals with an alleged radical group leader who has been charged with arson and inciting a group to riot against new settlers who have bought land and established a spiritual movement in the town. Participating schools compete against each other, reversing defense and prosecution roles each round.          

            This year’s competing high schools are Bakersfield, Centennial, Delano, Desert, East, Foothill, Frontier, Garces Memorial, Golden Valley, Robert F. Kennedy, Liberty, North, Ridgeview, Rosamond, Stockdale and West.

            As participants in Mock Trial, students have the opportunity to address the serious and timely issues young people encounter today. Under the guidance of teachers and attorney coaches, students use critical thinking and interpersonal skills to prepare and argue the case. An objective of the Mock Trial program is to give students a better understanding of the link between the Constitution, courts and legal system.

            The county event is sponsored by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Kern High School District, Kern County Bar Association, Kern County Superior Courts of California, Kern County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff’s Reserves with a grant from the Harry and Ethel West Foundation.