Ohio High School Mock Trial

About High School Mock Trial

High School Mock Trial offers an innovative approach to learning the law and how our legal system functions. Guided by teachers and volunteer legal advisors, students participate in an original, unscripted simulated trial where they take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and bailiffs/timekeepers. OCLRE and a committee of volunteers create an original, unscripted case every year that is based on a constitutional issue that serves as the basis for the simulated trial.

Program Event/Student Assessment

Participants of OCLRE’s High School Mock Trial competition are evaluated based on their performance during simulated trials. Each Mock Trial team will present their case as both the prosecution and defense. Teams are randomly paired against another team, switching sides and opponents in each trial. A panel of 2-3 volunteers will serve as judges during trial and each will evaluate student performance. 

High School Mock Trial teams may have between 5-12 students, with some exceptions for schools fielding more than one team.

Competition Details

• District Competition (January)

  • Every Mock Trial team registered for the statewide competition will participate at the District Competition which will take place at various county sites.

• Regional Competition (February)

  • Teams that advance out of the District Competition will go on to compete in the Regional Competition which will take place in various county sites.

• State Competition (March)
  • Teams that advance out of the Regional Competition will go on to compete in the State Competition which is hosted in Columbus over the course of three days (Thursday-Saturday).

For questions, contact Jenna Lewis at jlewis@oclre.org or call 614-485-3515.

Mock Trial Objectives

• Improve critical thinking, reading, writing, public speaking and listening skills
• De­velop un­der­stand­ing and ap­pre­ci­a­tion for the law, court pro­ce­dures, and the ju­di­cial sys­tem
• Un­der­stand con­sti­tu­tional rights and re­spon­si­bil­i­ties
• Rec­og­nize and re­ward stu­dents’ aca­d­e­mic and in­tel­lec­tual achieve­ments

Costs

Click on the button below to view a sample Ohio Mock Trial invoice for members & non-members.

To see a full list of the fees for each program, please check out our news article: 2025-26 Program Fees Announced

Sample Invoice

For questions, contact Jenna Lewis at jlewis@oclre.org or call 614-485-3515.

Case File

Case Materials Cost

Case files will be digital in PDF format only. OCLRE no longer offers hard copy cases for sale; advisors should plan accordingly.

2026 Ohio Mock Trial Case

The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education is proud to present the 2026 Ohio Mock Trial Case, State of Buckeye v. Morgan Remy! The 2026 case will explore questions about privacy, consent, technology and justice. Students will argue both sides of a motion hearing that combines forensic science, emerging technology and Fourth Amendment questions.

In 2000, 24-year-old Caleb “CJ” Jansen, a warehouse worker, was found strangled in his apartment. A violent struggle left DNA under the victim’s fingernails—but no match was found, and the case went cold. 25 years later, high school student Frankie Moyo uploaded their DNA to a genealogy site for extra credit and unknowingly triggered a chain of events that lead police straight to Morgan Remy, a former security guard at CJ’s workplace. Not only is Remy’s DNA a match, but police also discover CJ’s long-missing gold signet ring hidden in Remy’s home. Remy's defense team filed a motion to suppress the genetic genealogy evidence arguing that the police violated the Fourth Amendment by using a third party’s DNA without a warrant. The court must now decide: Is this powerful new investigative tool a breakthrough—or a constitutional overreach?

2026 Case File

The 2026 Case File is now available to download. For in-person attendees of the 2025 Mock Trial Conference, the case file was emailed as a PDF. For those who did not attend the conference, the link to download the file can be accessed in the Materials Order confirmation email. You will need to be logged into the account from which you placed the order to access the file. Once downloaded, you are free to share the case file PDF with your students and any co-advisors/legal advisors.

Purchase the 2025-26 Case File HERE

Please note that orders may only be submitted by designated school personnel or a legal advisor(s). Student orders are NOT permitted and will not be fulfilled.

Rule Changes & Case Topic Overview

During the 2025 Mock Trial Conference, Mock Trial coordinator Jenna Lewis discussed the rule changes & clarifications for the 2026 Ohio Mock Trial competition season. Additionally, Ohio Mock Trial Case Committee Co-Chair Ben Sandlin unpacked the legal topics at issue in this year's Ohio Mock Trial case, State of Buckeye v. Morgan Remy. Both sessions were recorded and may be viewed above & on the OCLRE YouTube Channel.

Errata Updates

The errata sheet serves to clarify or correct errors in the Mock Trial case and/or rules & does not address team strategy, coaching, or judging protocol. If a question received does not meet the criteria for errata (e.g. pertains to an evidence question), an email response will be sent to the individual advisor.

Errata Posting - 12/9

Errata Posting - 11/25

Errata Posting - 11/11

Errata Posting - 10/28

Errata Posting - 10/14

2025 Errata Schedule*

Submissions due for first errata: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

First errata posting: Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Submissions due for next errata: Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Errata posting: Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Submissions due for next errata: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Errata posting: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Submissions due for next errata: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Errata posting: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Submissions due for final errata: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Errata posting: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

*Note: All errata postings are as needed. If we do not receive any errata submissions the week prior, there will be no errata update. Please contact Jenna Lewis (jlewis@oclre.org) with any questions.

Please use the link bit.ly/2026MTerrata to submit errata. This link is case sensitive.

Previous Cases 

Looking for a prior year's case file? To view a complete list of past case summaries, click HERE. To order a prior year's case, please complete the order form HERE.

2024-25 – Denver Saidi v Wyatt Latu: Denver Saidi, principal of Trillium High School and candidate for city council, becomes concerned when a deepfake video featuring their speech at the Snow Ball Dance begins circulating online and damages their campaign. Saidi has filed a lawsuit for defamation against Trillium student Wyatt Latu, who used a generative AI app to create the video, and simultaneously seeks a preliminary injunction from the court to have the offending video taken down. 2024-25 Case Capsule Video

2023-24 – State v Espinosa: Ash Espinosa and Harley Diallo are cousins and were co-owners of a junkyard called Diallo’s Scrap & Sale. In November of 2020, the two became involved in a conspiracy to embezzle and launder money. Over the course of the next year, $80,000 was embezzled from Trillium High School and laundered through the junkyard, in addition to another $320,000 from other illicit sources. Eventually, the cousins were caught and arrested for their financial crimes, with both Espinosa and Diallo pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. The court must now decide on a loss amount reasonably attributed to each defendant, and as a result, whether the seizure of additional assets would constitute an excessive fine under the Eighth Amendment. The State of Buckeye has already seized assets from Ash Espinosa and Harley Diallo, but there is a remaining loss of $18,500 that must be recovered. 2023-24 Case Capsule Video

2022-23 – In Re S. Khan: Stevie Khan was a student at Trillium High School. When a prank ruined the school’s annual alumni breakfast during their junior year, Stevie became a suspect. During the investigation into the prank, Stevie was brought into the Dean of Students’ office where Stevie was asked about their involvement in the prank. At some point during the questioning, the school resource officer (SRO) Ari Nowak became involved. Stevie’s statements during the questioning led to a search warrant and Stevie’s ultimate arrest. Now, Stevie Khan is moving the court to suppress the incriminating statements that led to the search warrant, claiming a violation of their constitutional rights. Stevie claims that their questioning was a custodial interrogation, and they should have been read their Mirandarights. 2022-23 Case Capsule Video

For more information on how to become involved with the Ohio High School Mock Trial pro­gram, please con­tact Jenna Lewis at jlewis@oclre.org or call 614-485-3515.

High School Mock Trial Statewide Competition

2026 Ohio Mock Trial Competition

Dates:

The 2026 Ohio High School Mock Trial Competitions will be held on the following days:

District Competition: January 30, 2026

Regional Competition: February 20, 2026

State Competition: March 12-14, 2026

Forms

• Team Scrimmage Form: Click Here
• Team Roster Form: Click Here
• Team Roster Hub: Click Here
  • Use this form to make changes to your roster
• Team Drop Form: Click Here
• Behavioral Standards Form: Click Here

Documents

• 2026 Rule Changes: Click Here
• 2026 Rules of Competition: Click Here

Judge Training Materials

• Judge PowerPoint: Click Here
• Presiding Judge Procedures List: Click Here
• Presiding Judge Packet: Click Here
• Scoring Judge Packet: Click Here

Regional Competition - Qualifiers

Regional Competition - Sites & Team Side Playing First

Regional Site Assignments have been released. Please keep in mind that your site assignments may not be the same as Districts or previous years. 

Please note: If you have multiple teams, they may be assigned to compete in different locations. Use “CTRL+F” to search for your school's name.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clermont County Municipal Court (CCMC)

Site Location: 4430 S.R. 222, Batavia, OH 45103 
Sponsors: Clermont County Bar Association 
Check-In Time: 9:00 a.m. 
Time of Trial 1: 9:45 a.m. 
Time of Trial 2: 1:00 p.m. 
Lunch: We provide lunch at the Common Pleas Courthouse. Space is a challenge so teams are welcome to eat on their buses or anywhere in the courthouse. 
Awards: Awards will happen immediately following score tabulation (usually around 4:30 p.m.) in Judge Haddad's courtroom at the Common Pleas Court. Teams assigned to Municipal Court will need transportation back and forth between those buildings, as they are about 1.5 miles apart.

Clermont County Common Pleas Court (CCCPC)

Site Location: 270 E. Main Street Batavia, OH 45103 
Sponsor: Clermont County Bar Association 
Check-In Time: 9:00 a.m. 
Time of Trial 1: 9:45 a.m. 
Time of Trial 2: 1:00 p.m. 
Lunch: We provide lunch at the Common Pleas Courthouse. Space is a challenge so teams are welcome to eat on their buses or anywhere in the courthouse. 
Awards: Awards will happen immediately following score tabulation (usually around 4:30 p.m.) in Judge Haddad's courtroom at the Common Pleas Court. Teams assigned to Municipal Court will need transportation back and forth between those buildings, as they are about 1.5 miles apart.

Cuyahoga County Courthouse

Site Location: 1 W Lakeside Ave #202, Cleveland, OH 44113 
Check In: 9:00 a.m.  
Trial 1 Time: 10:00 a.m. 
Lunch: 12:00-12:45 p.m. (Pizza and water provided by the CMBA) 
Trial 2 Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Awards: 3:30 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Courthouse

Franklin County

Site Location: Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, 345 S High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 
Sponsor: Columbus Bar Association 
Check In: 12:00 p.m. (in Common Pleas between security and the elevators) 
Trial 1 Time: 12:45 p.m.  
Trial 2 Time: 3:00 p.m. 
Lunch: Teams should plan to eat lunch before they check in. There is no designated space for teams to eat lunch. 
Awards: The Awards Ceremony will take place at approximately 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium on the 1st floor at 373 S. High Street. Teams should travel to the Auditorium from the Common Pleas Court via the Mound Street Tunnel. 

Hamilton County

Site Location: Hamilton County Courthouse, 1000 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 
Check In: 9:30 a.m. 
Trial 1 Time: 10:00 a.m.  
Trial 2 Time: 1:00 p.m.  
Lunch: Teams will have to provide their own lunch for the Regional competition. Teams may eat lunch in the Hamilton County Law Library in room 601 of the Hamilton County Courthouse.
Awards: Announcement of Advancing Teams will be after the 2nd Round of Trials end, but before 4:00 PM. 

Lake County

Site Location: 47 North Park Place, Painesville, OH 44077 
Sponsor: Lake County Common Pleas Court and Lake County Bar Association 
Check In: 8:30 a.m.  
Trial 1 Time: 9:15 a.m. 
Trial 2 Time: 12:45 p.m. 
Lunch: There is no designated lunch space on site. There are many places to get food within walking distance. 
Awards: The awards ceremony takes place after the second trial after scores are tallied. Event generally concludes by 4:00 p.m.

Lorain County

Site Location: 601 Broad Street, Elyria, OH 44035
Check In: 12:00 p.m.  
Trial 1 Time: 12:45 p.m. pre-trial begins
Lunch: Teams are permitted to bring food into the courthouse and may eat lunch in the hallway. 
Awards: Immediately following end of trial 2

Marion County

Site Location 1: Marion County Family Court; 222 W. Center Street, Marion, OH 43302  
Sponsor: Marion County Bar Association 
Check In: 8:30 a.m.  
Trial 1 Time: 9:00 a.m. 
Trial 2 Time: 1:00 p.m.  
Lunch: There is designated space for teams to eat lunch.  
Awards: Awards presented after final trial of the day.

Scioto County

Site Location 1: Scioto County Courthouse, 602 Seventh St, Portsmouth OH 45662 
Sponsors: American Legion James Dickey Post 23, William & Barbara Burke, DESCO Federal Credit Union, Velma Feagans, Drs. Michael & Mary Martin, Rotary Club of Portsmouth, Scioto County Bar Association, Southern Ohio Medical Center, The Scioto Foundation 
Check In: 8:45 a.m. 
Trial 1 Time: 9:30 a.m. 
Trial 2 Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Lunch: Teams will need to go off site for lunch. 
Awards: Advancing teams will be announced in a short Awards Ceremony in the Law Library on the 3rd Floor after all scores are tabulated at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Summit County

Site Location: Summit County Courthouse, 209 S. High Street, Akron, OH 44308
Sponsors: Akron Bar Association
Check In: 8:00-8:30 a.m. 
Trial 1 Time: 9:00 a.m.  
Trial 2 Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Lunch: Teams should plan to eat offsite.  The following website provides information as to local eateries: https://www.downtownakron.com/explore/eat-and-drink/lunch
Awards: The awards ceremony will take place in the atrium of Akron Municipal Court at 172 S. Broadway St, Akron, OH from 3 to 6 pm.  The Akron Municipal Court building is right next to the Summit County Courthouse.

Washington County

Site Location: Washington County Courthouse; 205 Putnam St, Marietta, OH 45750 
Check In: 9:00 a.m.  
Trial 1 Time: 10:00 a.m.  
Trial 2 Time: 1:00 p.m.  
Lunch: On-site location with lunch provided. Typically pizza, drinks, and desserts. 
Awards: 205 Putnam Street after the final competitions.

Wood County

Site Location: 1 Courthouse Square, Bowling Green, OH 43402
Sponsors: Wood County Bar Association
Check In: 9:00-9:30 a.m.
Trial 1 Time: 10:00 a.m.  
Trial 2 Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Lunch: Lunch for students, advisors, and judges from 12-1 in courthouse atrium. Pizza, fruit salad, vegetables, beverages.
Awards: Award ceremony at the conclusion of the second trial in courtroom 1.

Team Registration Cost

*Decisions about the number of teams permitted are made in consultation with our site hosts to ensure that we can accommodate as many teams as possible. Capacity limits are typically announced to all teachers at the annual Mock Trial Conference and on this website afterward.

FAQ

How do I get started?

If you or your school are new to Ohio High School Mock Trial, welcome!

First, you need enough students to start a team. High School Mock Trial teams must have a minimum of 5 students and may have a maximum of 12 students.

Next, you need the case file. At the beginning of competition season, the case order form is available on the “Case File” tab of our website. The case is released annually at the Mock Trial Conference. Conference attendees are the first to receive their copy of the case and attend mock trial introductory and skill-based sessions.

Below is a quick guide explaining how to get started with Ohio Mock Trial

"Road Map to Mock Trial"

Can I still get the case if I cannot attend the Mock Trial Conference? 

Yes! Anyone can order the case materials by completing the form on the “Case File” tab of our website. The case will be made available digitally as a PDF with the option to order hard copy manuals for a separate fee. Conference attendees will receive the case one week earlier than non-attendees.

I have my case materials. Am I ready to compete? 

Not quite yet! To participate in the competition, you must register your team(s). The registration form is available on the “Statewide Competition” tab of our website in mid-fall. Team registration is separate from the case materials and is an additional fee.

What are the costs associated with participating in High School Mock Trial?

I don’t have a legal advisor. Do I need one? 

OCLRE does not require that mock trial teams have a legal advisor. However, most teachers appreciate assistance from volunteer attorneys to help students understand case law, courtroom procedure, and etiquette.

Teachers often have the most success in reaching out to attorneys in their community. You may ask students if they have family/friends who are attorneys, or you can reach out to other community members. Local bar associations are another resource for locating attorneys who may be willing to volunteer. You can see a list of local bar associations here: https://www.ohiobar.org/public-resources/lawyer-referral-services/  

When and where do my students compete?  

All teams registered for the competition will compete in the District Competition in January. Teams that advance out of the District Competition will go on to compete in the Regional Competition in February. Teams that advance out of the Regional Competition will move on to the State Competition in March. For the District and Regional competitions, teams will be assigned to compete in the closest competition site with space available. Teams will be notified of their site placement two weeks before the respective competition. The State Competition will take place in downtown Columbus, OH.

For a list of exact competition dates and eventual site assignments, please visit the “Statewide Competition” tab of the website.

My school doesn’t have a mock trial team, but I want to get involved. What can I do? 

Are you a high school student? To start a program at your school, you will need a teacher or staff member to serve as the Mock Trial advisor. You will also need a minimum of five students (including yourself) who are willing to be on the Mock Trial team. If you are able to find a teacher or staff member willing to be the team advisor, refer them to this list or to OCLRE directly.  

If you cannot find a team advisor or enough interested students at your school, you may be able to join a nearby Mock Trial team. Please reach out to Jenna Lewis (jlewis@oclre.org) for more information.