-Editorial
The Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) recognized student achievement across the Imperial Valley during the 2025 Imperial County Mock Trial Ceremony on February 12. The event highlighted the hard work and dedication of high school students who participated in this year’s Mock Trial competition.
The Mock Trial program provided students with the opportunity to work in teams, set goals, and analyze legal issues while engaging with positive role models from their communities. By studying a mock case and developing trial strategies and arguments, participants honed their public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.
This year, 106 students from six high schools—Central Union High, Imperial High, Desert Oasis/Phoenix Rising, Vincent Memorial, Brawley High, and Southwest High—competed in five rounds of courtroom simulations. The top two teams advanced to a final round to determine the winner of the competition.
For a second consecutive year, Central Union High School’s Mock Trial team emerged victorious in the county competition, thanks to months of dedicated practice and commitment from its members.
Alejandra Chaparro-Galindo, the team’s coach, credited their success to the students’ relentless preparation and perseverance.
“I think it was their extended amount of practice that made the difference,” Chaparro-Galindo said. “They practiced during holidays, made time for mock trial within their busy schedules, and prioritized it despite being involved in other extracurricular activities. Their dedication was key to becoming champions.”
Jonathan Galindo, a senior at Central Union High School and the team’s lead attorney reflected on the team’s journey and the challenges they overcame.
“It felt really good,” Galindo said. “At the beginning of the year, we didn’t even know if we had enough members to start a team. Coming back as the defending champions, we felt we had a standard to meet. So, we dedicated a lot of time, made sacrifices, and it felt amazing to get back in there and win again.”
Galindo, 17, plans to continue his path toward a legal career. He hopes to attend San Diego State University, major in English, and eventually go to law school to become an environmental attorney.
For future students considering joining Mock Trial, Galindo offered words of encouragement.
“I’d say chase it. Chase that feeling you get when you win—it’s exhilarating,” he said. “It might sound unreal, but the thrill and rush of winning is real. Let that be your motivation to always strive to be the best you can be.”
Belen Verdugo, a Deputy District Attorney with the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office and attorney coach for Central Union High School’s Mock Trial team, praised the students for their hard work and dedication to the program.
“I would say the key to their success is the students’ dedication and commitment to the Mock Trial program,” Verdugo said. “They spend many hours practicing, learning the rules of evidence, developing their character and personality, and building the confidence to present themselves in front of other schools, scoring attorneys, and judges.”
Verdugo was also pleased to see an increase in student participation this year and hopes the program continues to grow.
“This year, we had more students take part in Mock Trial, which was great to see. We hope to have even more schools join in the coming years,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the legal community grow, and hopefully, some of these students will pursue a career in law and return to Imperial County to practice here. That would be amazing.”
Erika Morquecho, Director of District and School Support at ICOE, highlighted the importance of giving students opportunities to shine in such academic competitions.
“When I first saw the action unfold a couple of years ago, it was incredible to witness the talent these students bring to the courtroom,” Morquecho said. “From the sketch artists to the bailiffs, clerks, and attorneys in their respective roles, each student plays a crucial part in making this competition come to life.”
Each year, ICOE works to enhance the event and expand its reach, ensuring that more schools and students have access to the experience.
“Our goal is student involvement—how can we get more schools engaged? How can we expose more students to these experiences?” Morquecho explained. “We constantly hear from participants, coaches, and attorneys that the skills gained in Mock Trial last a lifetime. That’s why our focus at ICOE is on expanding exposure and knowledge of this event so we can encourage more student participation across all districts.”
Judge Marco Núñez, who presided over portions of the competition, expressed his admiration for the students’ performances and the dedication they demonstrated throughout the event.
“I think the future looks bright,” Núñez said. “More than motivational, the performances were inspiring, and they gave me hope for the future of the judiciary. These students are hardworking, they persevere, and they push through challenges—that’s what it takes to succeed. If they keep doing what they’re doing, I have no doubt they will go far in the legal profession and beyond.”
Carlos Gonzales, Associate Superintendent at the Imperial County Office of Education, expressed his admiration for the young talent showcased in this year’s Mock Trial competition, highlighting the dedication and leadership of participating students.
“I think for us, it’s always impressive to see the incredible talent here in Imperial County,” Gonzales said. “Being able to hold competitions like Mock Trial and watch these students shine is truly inspiring. This is our future, and I believe we’re in great hands with this upcoming generation. They’re taking on leadership roles, competing, and demonstrating amazing skills, and we should all feel very proud of that.”
Gonzales also emphasized the collaborative effort it takes to organize the event each year, bringing together multiple school districts and legal professionals.
“At ICOE, we coordinate the event, but it’s a collective effort,” he explained. “We have judges, attorneys, and attorney coaches, as well as dedicated coaches at each school site. Together, they all work to ensure that the Mock Trial teams are well-prepared and ready to compete. We hope to see even more schools join next year, including Calexico, to continue growing this incredible program.”
