Competition Info

Preseason: Scrimmages were popular last season and are encouraged again this season. 

Regions

Regional competitions are made up of three rounds, with rounds 2 and 3 power matched (meaning teams that win rounds will face other teams that win rounds). Teams will switch sides between rounds 1 and 2. Sides for round 3 will be determined by a coin toss or similar method.

Region Saturday will be January 31, 2026. Some regions (e.g., Lawrenceville, Cumming, Jonesboro) will have their round 1 on Friday evening, January 3oth. Region 16 (Atlanta) will have its round 1 on Thursday, January 29th, and rounds 2 & 3 Sunday, February 1st. Dahlonega will have its region competition February 6th and 7th.

The top two, three, or four teams from each region advance to District. The exact number depends on how many teams competed in each region combining to form a district.

Districts

District competitions: three rounds, with first two rounds set based on placement at regions, and third round power matched. Two regions (subject to the caveat above) will come together for a district, with the top two teams from each district advancing to the State Finals. The District competitions will take place in-person on Saturday, February 21st and 28th, and (for the Atlanta District) Sunday, February 22nd.

Teams will switch sides between rounds 1 and 2. Sides for round 3 will be determined by a coin toss or similar method.

State Finals

The top 18 teams after Districts will meet at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 13-15. 

The Craig Harding Memorial Court Artist Contest

The Craig Harding Memorial Court Artist Contest will take place during the Regional Competitions in February. Each competing team will be able to register up to three artists for the contest. Each contestant will produce one or two drawings for judging. The judges will choose Region Champion Court Artists, and from those Region Champions, name a State Champion and State Finalist Court Artist.

The Georgia State Champion will have the opportunity to compete in the National Courtroom Artist Contest at the 2026 National High School Mock Trial Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, May 7-9, 2026.

More information about the 2026 Contest can be found on the Court Artist Contest's page page.

The National High School Mock Trial Championship

The Georgia State Champion qualifies to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The NHSMTC will take place in Des Moines, Iowa, May 7-9, 2026.