High School Mock Trial Competition

The Florida High School Mock Trial Program was launched in 1991 after years of planning and development by Annette Boyd Pitts and former Florida Bar Executive Director Marshall Cassedy. Hundreds of student participants have graduated, attended law school, and become members of The Florida Bar or other state bar associations. Many former student participants have returned to coach teams at the schools they once attended or at other schools throughout the state.

Today, the program is administered in partnership with the Justice Teaching Center, the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and various bar associations statewide. The Orange County Bar Association Law Week Committee provides assistance with volunteers, food, and a range of duties. Teams participate in county and circuit competitions. One team from each judicial circuit advances to represent the circuit at the state competition held annually in Orlando.

Hundreds of attorneys and judges volunteer to participate in the circuit and state competitions annually. A state advisory committee provides oversight and accountability in program administration. Volunteer attorneys and law students develop the case materials annually. The winning state team is eligible to represent Florida in the National High School Mock Trial Championship held annually in different host states.

Students learn critical thinking skills, legal reasoning, analysis, persuasive speaking, and professionalism, in addition to the structure and function of the courts and the legal process.

We are grateful to all of the participating voluntary bar associations, attorneys, and judges statewide that participate in this program. At the state level, we appreciate the work of the Orange County Bar Association Law Week Committee for their partnership efforts with this important event. We are honored to work alongside Judge Steve Jewett (Ninth Judicial Circuit) and value his longstanding assistance in coordinating the court space and presiding judges annually for this event.

For additional information, see the links below or contact Annette Pitts at apitts@flsouthern.edu.

The Florida High School Mock Trial Competition will be held March 2027, in Orlando at the Orange County Courthouse. Circuit competitions are scheduled locally and should be held in January and February. Please contact your local coordinator.

All teams in all circuits must register initially on our website. We provide school information directly to circuit coordinators. The registration deadline is November 1, 2026. Some circuits may also have additional local registration requirements. In this case, teams are required to register through both the state and circuit portals.

The case materials will be released to all teams that have registered on our website. If you have not received them by November 15, please contact apitts@flsouthern.edu.

This page contains a wealth of resources to assist you in your preparations. Please let us know if you have any questions.

All circuits and teams must use the state high school mock trial case materials and rules of evidence.