Mock Trial Team

Join the Team!

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office is proud to sponsor the Mock Trial Team at Hillsboro High School!

Mock Trial is a program that allows students to learn about preparing and litigating a criminal or civil case and learning about the legal system.

We opted to launch this team at Hillsboro High School due to student demographics. HillHi is a majority-minority school, economically disadvantaged, and this program helps students improve their self-advocacy. It also exposes them to potential careers in the legal and criminal justice fields.

Students receive some classroom instruction as part of Hillsboro High’s “You and the Law” class, as well as after-school practice and instruction with other members of the team. Students receive a mock court case and are responsible for preparing the case while playing the roles of attorneys and witnesses. Students learn the skills of public speaking, teamwork, research, collaboration, civil and criminal legal concepts, civic engagement, and how to prepare a case from real trial attorneys.

Generally occurring in the spring, the Mock Trial Team competes against other high schools in Washington County in the Oregon High School Mock Trial Competition.

*There is no cost to join and transportation will be provided for any off-campus activities. Interested? Please contact Julio Galian, [email protected], Social Studies teacher at Hillsboro High.

Past Events

Congratulations to the Hillsboro High School Mock Trial Team! With guidance and instruction from our prosecutors, the team recently competed in the regional competition on March 1, 2025 at the Washington County Courthouse. A total of 18 teams took part in the competition. This year, the mock trial team was the largest we've had and we hope to continue to grow the program in the future.

Financial Donations

Help support the Hillsboro High School Mock Trial Team with a financial contribution. HillHi has a large minority student population, many of whom come from economically disadvantaged families. Your generous donation helps the Washington County District Attorney’s Office purchase courtroom attire for competitions and celebrate the students’ accomplishments for the season. Donations can be made in the form of cash or checks made out to the Washington County District Attorney's Office. Contact Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard for more information.

We'd like to acknowledge the following donors for their financial support:

• Cadiz Law
• Cornerstone Law Group
• Harris Law Firm
• KN Defense
• Metropolitan Public Defenders
• Washington County District Attorney's Office