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2026 CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition Information

Monday, January 26, 2026

UPDATED: Wednesday, 01/28/2026 | 3:05 PM ChST

The U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, in partnership with the NMI Bar Association and the CNMI Public School System, will host the 26th Annual CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition on March 5-6, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gualo Rai.  Seven high schools from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota will compete for the honor of representing the Commonwealth at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, in May 2026.

The competition offers an opportunity for students to step into the roles of attorneys and witnesses, experience the process of preparing for trial in a fictitious case, and present their best case to members of the legal community in a real courtroom setting.  The students gain exposure to trial procedure, rules of evidence, and the exciting challenges of advocacy.

This year’s case, Cruz v. Vic’s Vâporium, centers on a lawsuit filed by parents of a high school sophomore who died after using an e-cigarette.  The parents allege that a local smoke shop unlawfully sold e-cigarette products to their son, raising issues of liability and underage access to vaping products.  Please see below for all competition materials, including the case packet, competition rules, and program.

This year’s competition marks another chapter in a longstanding tradition of the judiciary, educators, and members of the legal profession in promoting civic education and experiential learning for students.  The CNMI Judiciary hosted the first competition in 1999 and continuously sponsored it through 2025, with the exception of two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.  For nearly three decades, the competition has introduced hundreds of students to the justice system.

The U.S. District Court extends its best wishes to all participating students and expresses appreciation to the teachers, attorney-coaches, and volunteers who make the competition possible.  The community is invited to attend the awards ceremony at the United States Courthouse in Gualo Rai on Friday, March 6, at 11:00 a.m., where outstanding performances and the Commonwealth’s representative to the national championship will be announced.