16th annual 2026 high school mock trials
coaches corner
Watch for information updates to this page.
Welcome Coaches and Staff!
The 2026 McLean County Bar Association [MCBA] Regional Mock Trial Invitational is sponsored by the MCBA Mock Trial Committee and in cooperation with the ISBA Committee on Law Related Education for the Public & the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Trial Courts. This year's tournament will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
We are able to host 24 teams this year.
NEW THIS YEAR! After much input from our Coaching community, we decided to charge $25.00 per school this year. This money will help defray the costs associated with hosting the tournament each year. Please know that you are welcome to pay in two ways. There is an online option for a credit card and/or paypal and there is a check payment option. If you haven't paid yet and wish to pay with a credit card, please see this LINK and scroll to the bottom on the page. The check payment option is listed below. Please know that checks must be received by Thursday, January 15th.
The 2026 McLean County Bar Association [MCBA] Regional Mock Trial Invitational is sponsored by the MCBA Mock Trial Committee and in cooperation with the ISBA Committee on Law Related Education for the Public & the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Trial Courts. This year's tournament will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
We are able to host 24 teams this year.
NEW THIS YEAR! After much input from our Coaching community, we decided to charge $25.00 per school this year. This money will help defray the costs associated with hosting the tournament each year. Please know that you are welcome to pay in two ways. There is an online option for a credit card and/or paypal and there is a check payment option. If you haven't paid yet and wish to pay with a credit card, please see this LINK and scroll to the bottom on the page. The check payment option is listed below. Please know that checks must be received by Thursday, January 15th.
Payment Options: Credit Card or Check
Check Payment Instructions
Issue your check to: MCBA [McLean County Bar Association]
Please send to: MCBA
PO Box 3142
Bloomington, IL 61702-3142
The checks must be received by Thursday, January 15th, 2026.
Credit Card Instructions
Please see payment options after you have filled in your registration below.
Check Payment Instructions
Issue your check to: MCBA [McLean County Bar Association]
Please send to: MCBA
PO Box 3142
Bloomington, IL 61702-3142
The checks must be received by Thursday, January 15th, 2026.
Credit Card Instructions
Please see payment options after you have filled in your registration below.
Miscellanious Information:
* We are allowing all to register up to two teams, if you have a second team. Please pay $25.00 per school registration fee. If we have enough slots in January to invite a second team, we will extend an invitation at that time. The Registration/Cancellation Deadline is January 15, 2026.
**Updated 1/16/2026 - We only had room for one second team and that slot has been offered to Normal Community High School.
* This is the first year of a $25.00 per school registration fee.
* We need a student runner for each round from your school. This means a person from your team will gather all of the judges paperwork and run it to the tabulating room. Please note the added commitment in the registration form below.
* We are allowing all to register up to two teams, if you have a second team. Please pay $25.00 per school registration fee. If we have enough slots in January to invite a second team, we will extend an invitation at that time. The Registration/Cancellation Deadline is January 15, 2026.
**Updated 1/16/2026 - We only had room for one second team and that slot has been offered to Normal Community High School.
* This is the first year of a $25.00 per school registration fee.
* We need a student runner for each round from your school. This means a person from your team will gather all of the judges paperwork and run it to the tabulating room. Please note the added commitment in the registration form below.
2026 Teams registered so far - payment status
last updated 1-16-2026 am
** Denotes a new school to this tournament in 2026 .**
** Denotes a new school to this tournament in 2026 .**
The preference for the 2nd Team slots have been given to the downstate schools and then the other 2nd team slots were drawn out of the hat.
Adlai E Stevenson High School - Paid
Bartlett High School - Paid
Boylan Catholic High School - Paid
Chicago Christian High School - Paid
College Preparatory School of America - Paid
De La Salle Institute - Paid
** DePaul Prep High School - Paid
Dunlap High School
Evanston Township High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
LaSalle Peru Township High School - Paid
Maine South High School - Paid
MCC Academy [MCCA] - Paid
** Minooka Community High - Paid
Niles North High School - Paid
Niles West High School - Paid
Normal Community High School & 2nd Team Invitation - Paid
Normal West High School - Paid
O'Fallon High School - Paid
Pittsfield High School - Paid
Southland College Prep High School - Paid
St. Charles East High School - Paid
** University High School [UHigh] - Paid
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School - Paid
York Community High School - Paid
Bartlett High School - Paid
Boylan Catholic High School - Paid
Chicago Christian High School - Paid
College Preparatory School of America - Paid
De La Salle Institute - Paid
** DePaul Prep High School - Paid
Dunlap High School
Evanston Township High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
LaSalle Peru Township High School - Paid
Maine South High School - Paid
MCC Academy [MCCA] - Paid
** Minooka Community High - Paid
Niles North High School - Paid
Niles West High School - Paid
Normal Community High School & 2nd Team Invitation - Paid
Normal West High School - Paid
O'Fallon High School - Paid
Pittsfield High School - Paid
Southland College Prep High School - Paid
St. Charles East High School - Paid
** University High School [UHigh] - Paid
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School - Paid
York Community High School - Paid
Payment Options: Credit Card or Check
Check Payment Instructions
Issue your check to: MCBA [McLean County Bar Association]
Please send to: MCBA
PO Box 3142
Bloomington, IL 61702-3142
The checks must be post marked by Thursday, January 15th, 2026.
Credit Card Instructions - Please click on the button below.
Your Cell Phone Number
Be sure that your contact cell phone numbers are correct as listed below.
We use these on the tournament day to stay in touch with teams traveling into Bloomington.
If you find an error, please email Mary with the correction at: [email protected]
Be sure that your contact cell phone numbers are correct as listed below.
We use these on the tournament day to stay in touch with teams traveling into Bloomington.
If you find an error, please email Mary with the correction at: [email protected]
participating & registered schools, coach name & cell number
Last updated 1-7-2025
Adlai E Stevenson High School - Brian Oberhauser - 708.308.8551
Bartlett High School - Richard Johnson - 630.400.7678
Boylan Catholic High School - Stephen Langley - 815.988.4937
Chicago Christian High School - Mike Drury - 616.648.5056
College Preparatory School of America [CPSA] - Asim Gaffar - 630.405.3846
De La Salle Institute - Paul Dirschl - 708.307.4581
DePaul Prep High School - Paul Sheldon - 312.399.8805
Dunlap High School - Lisa Vogal - 309.258.6153
Evanston Township High School - Lem Washington - 773.939.1914
Homewood-Flossmoor High School - Libby Day - 256.684.5443
LaSalle Peru Township High School - Melissa Olivero & Brian - 815.252.4429
Maine South High School - Don McArthur & Valerie Fresh - 630.817.8990
MCC Academy - Saima Sanaullah - 773.852.0080
Minooka Community High School - Chris Williamson - 815.474.4922
Niles West High School - Rick Rosenberg & Mike Pinsof - 847.322.0479
Normal Community High School - Kevin Shackley - 309.391.4184
Normal West High School - John Bierbaum - 309.838.9034
O'Fallon High School - Michael McGarrity - 618.520.7779
Pittsfield High School - Walker Filbert - 217.371.0636
St. Chasles East High School - William Stepien - 331.442.5725
Southland College Prep High School - Sherry Grutzius - 773.403.1647
University High School - Michael Shanley - 773.505.0385
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School - Ronald S. Rodgers - 773.519.6516
York Commnty High School - Amy Mueller - 847.942.6472
Bartlett High School - Richard Johnson - 630.400.7678
Boylan Catholic High School - Stephen Langley - 815.988.4937
Chicago Christian High School - Mike Drury - 616.648.5056
College Preparatory School of America [CPSA] - Asim Gaffar - 630.405.3846
De La Salle Institute - Paul Dirschl - 708.307.4581
DePaul Prep High School - Paul Sheldon - 312.399.8805
Dunlap High School - Lisa Vogal - 309.258.6153
Evanston Township High School - Lem Washington - 773.939.1914
Homewood-Flossmoor High School - Libby Day - 256.684.5443
LaSalle Peru Township High School - Melissa Olivero & Brian - 815.252.4429
Maine South High School - Don McArthur & Valerie Fresh - 630.817.8990
MCC Academy - Saima Sanaullah - 773.852.0080
Minooka Community High School - Chris Williamson - 815.474.4922
Niles West High School - Rick Rosenberg & Mike Pinsof - 847.322.0479
Normal Community High School - Kevin Shackley - 309.391.4184
Normal West High School - John Bierbaum - 309.838.9034
O'Fallon High School - Michael McGarrity - 618.520.7779
Pittsfield High School - Walker Filbert - 217.371.0636
St. Chasles East High School - William Stepien - 331.442.5725
Southland College Prep High School - Sherry Grutzius - 773.403.1647
University High School - Michael Shanley - 773.505.0385
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School - Ronald S. Rodgers - 773.519.6516
York Commnty High School - Amy Mueller - 847.942.6472
Local Food Delivery Options
You will be located at:
The Law & Justice Center
104 West Front St., Bloomington, IL
Security Procedures for Deliveries:
1. The deliver people are not allowed inside of the L&J Center.
2. You will need to go down to security in the front lobby and pick up the delivery.
3. I suggest having the delivery person text you when they arrive so you can send a person or three to pick up the food.
You will be located at:
The Law & Justice Center
104 West Front St., Bloomington, IL
Security Procedures for Deliveries:
1. The deliver people are not allowed inside of the L&J Center.
2. You will need to go down to security in the front lobby and pick up the delivery.
3. I suggest having the delivery person text you when they arrive so you can send a person or three to pick up the food.
There are water, pop and snack machines within the building. They take coins, paper dollars and some take credit cards now.
Law & Justice Center Guidelines for all Visitors
Please know that each person will be required to pass through security. This means that it may take a while for each team and visitors to come through the line. I'm not sure that we have had this requirement in years past. This will take time.
With that said, please know that the doors open at 8:00 am. You are welcome to come any time after that. I encourage you to come early if your schedule allows. More details to come on check-in.
With that said, please know that the doors open at 8:00 am. You are welcome to come any time after that. I encourage you to come early if your schedule allows. More details to come on check-in.
Cell Phones Guidelines for all visitors
Please be sure all students and all visitors are aware of these guides.
From our Court Security Chief Officer:
* Cell phones are OK as long as everyone understands not to be using them in the courthouse except for school business.
* No videos, pictures, texting, social media use, etc.
* If a school Administrator/Teacher wants to video some of the trials for educational purposes, that is the only exception.
* No videos, pictures, texting, social media use, etc.
* If a school Administrator/Teacher wants to video some of the trials for educational purposes, that is the only exception.
2026 parking
to be updated
vehicle
Vehicle garage parking is located on the east side of the Law & Justice Center.
There is a charge of $1/hour which unfortunately the buss parking permit does not cover the cost of the parking garage.
There is a charge of $1/hour which unfortunately the buss parking permit does not cover the cost of the parking garage.
mock trial rounds
to be updated
The Schedule & Location Information
The Mock Trial tournament will be held in 3rd, 4th and 5th floor courtrooms of the Law & Justice Center located at 104 W. Front Street, Bloomington, Illinois.
9:00 am at the 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room - Coach/Team Leader/Captain meeting
9:00 am at the 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room - Coach/Team Leader/Captain meeting
Time limits are imperative to the success of this program.
|
Round 1 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
|
Round 2 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
|
Round 3 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
|
Awards announced from 3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Everyone is welcome to stay for these awards.
2026 mock trial forms and information
High School Mock Trial Problem LINK
- MCBA-ISBA Regional Mock Trial Agenda - to come
- ISBA Mock Trial Website Resources - Problem, exhibits, handbook and additional resources here.
- Rules Summary - to come
- Evaluator Score Sheet
- Presiding Score Sheet
- Time Sheet
- Judges' Questionnaire