LAKEPORT, Calif. – A unique educational program is coming to Lake County, with members of the local judiciary, attorneys and educators meeting this week for an initial orientation.

The Lake County Superior Court and the Lake County Office of Education are partnering to bring the California Mock Trial Program to Lake County.

A program orientation for members of the legal and academic communities will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in Department 2 of the Lake County Superior Court, located on the fourth floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Representatives of the Mendocino County's Mock Trial Program will offer an overview of the program.

The orientation is the first step in planning for implementing the competition; the first will take place in Lake County in the 2012-13 school year.

In 1980, Constitutional Rights Foundation introduced the Mock Trial program to all the counties in California, according to the foundation's Web site, www.crf-usa.org/mock-trial-program/mock-trial-program.html.

The Mock Trial Program currently has 36 California counties participating, Constitutional Rights Foundation reported.

The program was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of the judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of society.

In addition, the Mock Trial Program assists students in developing skills to master state content standards for history and social science, the foundation reported.

Cases are released to all California counties in the early fall, with county-level competitions usually taking place in late fall or early spring, according to the foundation Web site.

The foundation explained that county competition winners go on to the state finals in March, and in May, the winner of the state competition represents California at the annual National High School Mock Trial Competition, involving teams from 54 states and territories.

For more information on the Mock Trial Program in Lake County, call the Lake County Office of Education, 707-262-4100.

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