Commitment to Service: Orange County’s High School Mock Trial Competition

I recently had the pleasure of observing (and scoring) a mock trial competition in Orange County. That evening, myself and the other legal professionals, judges, and volunteers rallied at the end of our long day to kick off the opening round of the 31st Annual Orange County High School Mock Trial Competition, organized by the Constitutional Rights Foundation – Orange County and held at the Civil Justice Center of Orange County Superior Court, located in downtown Santa Ana.

Being my first foray into such competitions, I was uncertain what to expect, but the gracious judge and attorney scorer, both well-seasoned volunteers, took me under their wings and guided myself (and the student teams) through the evening.

At the conclusion, to my sincere surprise and delight, the students eagerly rushed forward to inquire of the legal professionals for tips, pointers, critiques, suggestions, and the like. Their enthusiasm and drive were more energizing than a doppio espresso macchiato, even at 8:00 p.m.

As a former President of the State Bar of California, my employer, James Otto Heiting of Heiting & Irwin in Riverside, shares my strong commitment to public service, and was generous enough to donate our time to this special event. The competition is presently in the third round but still in desperate need of volunteers. If you, or any one you know are able to volunteer some time, I encourage you to contact the Constitutional Rights Foundation – Orange County with inquiries.