ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Elk Grove and Pleasant Grove high schools took home fourth and fifth place, respectively, among Sacramento County schools in the 2025 Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Mock Trial Competition. 

The schools earned the awards after five days of intense courtroom competition at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria on Feb. 10. 

The competition simulates trial-level proceedings in which students portray pre-trial counsel, prosecuting and defense attorneys, witnesses, county clerks, bailiffs and jurors before a single presiding judge and two scoring judges. 

Volunteers from local law firms and other legal organizations served as scoring and presiding judges for the five-day competition. 

Elk Grove High won first place during the 43rd annual mock trial competition in 2022 and won five-straight first place finishes from 2013 to 2017.

Elk Grove High School and Pleasant Grove High School made up a fraction of the 500 students across 24 schools from Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado and Yuba counties. 

Sacramento Country Day School was awarded first place for the third year in a row and will advance to the California Mock Trial Competition being held from March 14-16 in Los Angeles. 

“Throughout your active team involvement in Mock Trial you’ve been exchanging ideas, setting goals, and examining issues—all while interacting with positive role models from our community,” said Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon. “Through this process, you have gained a practical understanding of legal rights and the importance of advocacy.”