Stockton Early College Academy took first place in the 2025 San Joaquin County Mock Trial Competition and will move on to represent San Joaquin County at the California Mock Trial Competition in Los Angeles, March 14-16.
Photos will be posted on the SJCOE Facebook account @thesjcoe.
A total of 200 students from the following 13 high schools competed in the varsity event: Aspire Benjamin Holt Academy, Aspire Langston Hughes Academy, ABLE Charter Schools, Mountain House High School (Lammersville Unified School District), Ronald E. McNair High School (Lodi Unified School District), Ripon Christian High School, Ripon High School (Ripon Unified School District), Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology (Stockton Unified School District), Stockton Early College Academy (Stockton Unified School District), John C. Kimball High School (Tracy Unified School District), Merrill F. West High School (Tracy Unified School District), Tracy High School (Tracy Unified School District), and Venture Academy Family of Schools (San Joaquin County Office of Education).
The San Joaquin County Mock Trial event is co-sponsored by the San Joaquin County Bar Association and the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) in cooperation with Teach Democracy (formerly the Constitutional Rights Foundation). The event would not have been possible without the assistance of the judges, attorneys, bailiffs, and others who volunteered their time.
Team Results:
- First Place: Stockton Early College Academy
- Second Place: Tracy High School
- Third Place: Mountain House High School
- Fourth Place: Venture Academy Family of Schools
The Honorable John F. Cruikshank, Jr. Spirit Award
$500 provided by the San Joaquin County Bar Association:
- Carson Bishop, ABLE Charter Schools
- Devika Vithalani, Mountain House High School
Pacific Summer High School Institute Award
Enrollment at two-week, all-inclusive residential pre-college institute ($3,500 value) provided by the University of the Pacific
- Carson Bishop, ABLE Charter Schools
- Devika Vithalani, Mountain House High School
Top Pre-Trial Prosecution:
- Aydin Assifi, Tracy High School
Top Pre-Trial Defense:
- Oluwatishe Folayan, Mountain House High School
Top 12 Overall Attorneys:
- Johnathan Navarro, Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology
- Srin Ibrahim, Tracy High School
- Sophia Guerrero, Venture Academy Family of Schools
- Devika Vithalani, Mountain House High School
- Ruhan Whittington, Stockton Early College Academy
- Avery Blum, Venture Academy Family of Schools
- Jasleen Thandi, Stockton Early College Academy
- Azalia Ramirez, Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology
- Kavin Satishkumar, Tracy High School
- Dimeera Kadiwala, Tracy High School
- Charlie Giulian, Ripon Christian High School
- Mandy Dhadda, Merrill F. West High School
Top 12 Overall Witnesses:
- Lida Amirhamzeh, Ripon Christian High School
- Armann Shergill, McNair High School
- Alexis Paulino Nayotl, Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology
- Nathan Lee, Venture Academy Family of Schools
- Rosa Razo, McNair High School
- Layla Sephos, Venture Academy Family of Schools
- Xitlally Hernandez-Munguia, Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology
- Arabella Hoit, Ripon Christian High School
- Yesenia Leon, Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology
- Audrina King, Mountain House High School
- Nayomi Shih, Tracy High School
- Nimunniasia Hengkaul, Stockton Early College Academy
Top Clerks:
- Axa Guiterrez, Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology
Top Bailiffs:
- Brandon Alvarez, Langston Hughes Academy
Top Courtroom Artist:
- Kylo Tungol, Mountain House High School
Top Journalist:
- Pratibha Saroya, Tracy High School
About the case:
People v. Gold is the trial of Logan Gold, assistant campaign manager to their spouse, Harper Dorais (pronounced do · RAY), who is a candidate for city council in the rural mountain town of Emerald Bend, California. Gold is also the sole hotel owner in town. Gold is charged with the kidnapping of Taylor Alexander, a rival candidate to Dorais in the city council election.
To learn more about Mock Trial: https://teachdemocracy.org/programs/mock-trial-program/what-is-mock-trial-4