Welcome to Mock Trial

Are you ready to step into your #MockTrialEra?

We are currently coordinating regional events and clinics. The first draft of rules is linked below, with the case being released no later than November 1. The case will be linked below ONCE it becomes available.

Are you interested in starting a Mock Trial Program? MCCE welcomes you to start a team. From coaches roundtables, clinics, and coaches retreats, we hope you will find the program rewarding.

Questions? Email mocktrial@miciviced.org.

Getting Started with Michigan Mock Trial

Legal professionals including judges, clerks, sections, courts, and affinity groups, please click to the left to learn what is needed to host this important event in our “Mock Trial in a Box” resource.

Schools, teachers, students, and community members, please click to the right to learn more about the program. We are here to help. Please start with this helpful FAQ about getting started in Michigan.

What is Mock Trial?

Mock Trial is an amazing extra-curricular, co-curricular, and curricular program. Mock Trial advances knowledge and skills incorporating trial procedure, justice, rule of law, and more while encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and public speaking skills.

Watch students transform themselves into witnesses and attorneys and enact case facts in front of attorneys and judges in real life (or virtually real life) courtrooms.

MCCE is also committed to expanding access to the law and justice. Our new companion programs encourage the storytelling necessary to tell the human experience inside the courtroom. Courtroom Artists illustrate the stories and Courtroom Journalists report on the information for the whole world to see, understand, and appreciate. Moreover, MCCE is dedicated to providing accessibility to current and future members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities and their interpreters. ASL interpreters who are seeking ‘hands up’ time in courtrooms may use the high school mock trial series to approximate the real life of the courtroom while earning additional training hours for their certificate credentials.

Middle school and elementary programs coming soon! MCCE is seeking sponsors who share this commitment to help expand to reach each and every school in Michigan. Message us if you want to help amplify the benefits of this program.

To learn more about the benefits of Mock Trial – please click here.

Monthly Teacher & Coach Roundtables

Please join in the monthly teacher and coaches roundtables. These will be structured to include three components to help mobilize the law related education communities through mock trial.

At each session, expect:
a) Updates on the Mock Trial season from MCCE

b) A mini professional learning session on an issue of import to the community and Mock Trial practice and

c) Time for you to ask questions of each other to advance Mock Trial in your schools.

7-8pm on Mondays once a month beginning September 29, 2025. The Zoom link is here (full url: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81468815183)

2025-26 Mock Trial Season

Are you ready to step into your #MockTrialEra with our 2025-2026 season? We are introducing updated Rules & Guidelines, and a new civil case (released no later than November 1, 2025). MCCE is also pleased to continue advancing the Michigan Supreme Court Rules for Professionalism & Civility initiative in Mock Trial. MCCE extends its deep appreciation to the Oakland County Bar Foundation and the Macomb County Bar Foundation for their enduring support! They make these events possible.

School registration will open November 1, 2025
Volunteer sign-ups will open November 1, 2025
Case Q&A. Please submit all questions through this form and MCCE will release answers to online for all to have access.
Case Q&A Answer Form. Please check here for the answers to all submitted questions for the Case Q&A form.
Monday Coaches Roundtables via Zoom began September 29, 2025 from 7-8pm
School team registration due no later than January 14, 2026
Courtroom Journalist and Courtroom Artist due no later than January 31, 2026
Team membership due no later than January 31, 2026

Mock Trial Clinics – registration HERE!

Tuesday, December 2 – Hall of Justice, Lansing
Thursday, December 4 – Wayne State Law School, Detroit
Date TBD – Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids
Want a clinic in your area? Reach out to MCCE!

Tentative Regional Events:

Friday, February 13 – Northern MI – Leelanau County Courthouse (Suttons Bay)
Saturday, February 21 – Oakland – Oakland County Circuit Court (Pontiac)
Saturday, February 28 – Wayne – Coleman A. Young Building (Detroit)
Tuesday, March 3 – Upper Peninsula – Marquette County Courthouse (Marquette)
Saturday, March 7 – Macomb – Macomb County Courthouse (Mt. Clemens)
Saturday, March 7 – Kent – Kent County Courthouse (Grand Rapids)

State and National Finals

Civic Education Reception – Friday, March 20 – AC Hotel, Lansing
March 20-21, 2026 – Lansing (pending two day confirmation)
May 7-9, 2026 – Des Moines, Iowa (Legal Team, Artist, and Journalist Categories)

Sponsors Needed! Show your support for the current and future legal community by sponsoring Mock Trial events! Reach out to mocktrial@miciviced.org.

School Information

Welcome to all schools across the great state of Michigan!

In every Michigan Mock Trial event, there are three witnesses and three attorneys. Teams may consist of 6-12 students. Schools are permitted up to three (3) teams per regional. MCCE tries to alternate between civil and criminal cases each year, choosing topics of contemporary interest.

Regional Information

MCCE currently hosts 6 regional events. All schools across the entire state are encouraged to participate. MCCE is actively seeking Courthouses to house additional regional events throughout Michigan, including Northern Michigan.

Registration runs from 7:35-8:00 am each morning with an awards ceremony approximately from 4:30-5:00p.m. In the school orientation materials below, you will find a more detailed schedule when it becomes available.

State Finals Information

Depending on courtroom facilities, 10 – 12 teams will advance to state finals. All qualifying schools will compete in two preliminary trials. The top four teams advance to semi-finals. Two teams advance to the championship round. The school that wins that trial, has the opportunity to represent #TeamMichigan at the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The host site does change each year. #TeamMichigan will have the opportunity to compete in Wilmington, Delaware, May 2-5, 2024.

At every regional and state event, Courtroom Artists and Courtroom Journalists also have the opportunity to showcase their talents. These state champions will also have the opportunity to represent #TeamMichigan at the National Championship. MCCE delights in being able to improve access to justice for the greater legal community. ASL Interpreters needing additional training or hands up time may also coordinate with their agencies to use the Michigan Mock Trial Courtrooms to increase their training.

Volunteer Information

Volunteers Needed:

Coaches and school mentors
Clinic and tutorial educators
Scoring Judges
Presiding Judges
Courtroom Officers
Courtroom Artist Judges and Educators
Courtroom Journalist Judges and Educators
Hospitality – Hosts and Hall Supervisors
Logistics

The volunteer and school registration system can be found here (http://mimocktrial.tabroom.com).

Materials to walk through your account set up may be found here.

Volunteer Judges, please bring an electronic device if possible for ballot entry. We will have volunteers and extra devices available on site! Thank you so much!

Observer Information

To register as an observer for an MCCE Mock Trial event, you may utilize this online form.

Thank you for supporting Mock Trial participants. Your role as a supporter means so much to the students. To ensure all observers know and adhere to the professionalism standards of the activity, all observers much wear a nametag and sign the code of conduct.

This process helps facilitate and streamline the observer check-in process the day of the event. We are excited to have your involvement.

The school and observer code of conduct is linked here.

Who should fill out this form? Anyone who is not a team participant, official teacher of record, or listed as a community coach should complete this form. Any observers from parents/guardians, community leaders, friends, or other interested persons who wish to observe a trial should complete the form.

Who does not need to complete the form? If you are officially listed as a community coach at registration, you do note need to complete the form. Your name tags will be available with your school check in materials.

What do I do the morning of the event? Simply check in at the registered observer location to receive your name tag. Schools will draw their codes at registration and simply add the code to your name tag.

What if I don’t register? There will be an observer registration table at registration. Please know this time of the morning is very busy so you may need to wait to register. We encourage preregistration to help streamline the process.

When do I need to complete the form? Please complete the registration form no later than 48 hours prior to the event date. For example, if your event is on a Saturday, please complete no later than the Wednesday before the event.

Virtual Mock Trial Tips with the Honorable Kameshia Gant

Thank You to our Sponsors

Thank you to the sponsors below for making Mock Trial Possible.

Please reach out to show your support and investment in the present and future legal community. Help us make Mock Trial possible all across our great state.