2026 Alaska High School Mock Trial Competition

 Date: March 27th & 28th, 2026

The Alaska High School Mock Trial Competition is an annual event sponsored by the Anchorage Bar Association. Participation in mock trial not only teaches high school students about the law and courtroom experience, but it also builds critical thinking and public speaking skills. The competition draws teams of 6-9 high school students from around the state to compete in a series of simulated trials, with students playing the rolls of both attorneys and witnesses. Students are provided a set of case materials consisting of legal pleadings, witness affidavits, and exhibits. Case materials alternate between civil and criminal cases. The current problem and past problems are available elsewhere on this page, along with some suggested training materials for high school teachers that may not be particularly familiar with preparing for mock trial.

The Anchorage Bar Association is grateful to Professor Ryan Fortson for the 20 years that he developed the Mock Trial problems and organized this outstanding annual event.

For more information, please contact the Anchorage Bar Association at info@anchoragebarassociation.org 

Official Case Materials and Competition Rules

2026 Case Overview: In Re Latham

Crisscross Pass is a small Alaska town of 84 residents, give or take, just off the Glenn Highway somewhere between Palmer and Glennallen. Most residents work in some capacity for the state or federal government, either maintaining roads or working for the Bureau of Land Management, or provide guide and other services to recreational hunters and fishers. There is not much wealth to be found in Crisscross Pass. The one shining exception was Allison Latham, a world-famous painter who just happened to be born in Crisscross Pass and never left. Allison, who painted under the pseudonym “Lite Metal,”1 amassed a great fortune through her art. However, Allison, who had a history of mental illness, was found dead on the morning of October 28, 2025 by Avery Martinez, a friend of Allison. Allison had shot herself in the head.
In Allison’s will, she left the vast majority of her fortune to Sidney Winston, Allison’s agent, as opposed to Taylor Markovich, Allison’s only sibling. Allison also left a small amount of money to her cousin Koren Andrews, who had also been a witness to the will signing. Taylor had previously been very concerned about Allison’s mental health and arranged for a state social worker, Pat Bernstein, to go to Crisscross Pass and conduct a mental health screening interview with Allison. Pat did this assessment and concluded that Allison was able to function sufficiently on her own. Allison signed the will, which had been drafted by attorney Jesse Montgomery, on October 8, 2025.
Taylor challenged the validity of Allison’s will and Sidney’s right to the estate on three grounds: 1) that Allison was not mentally competent to sign her will at the time it was executed; 2) that Sidney exerted undue influence on Allison in getting her to sing the will; and 3) that Sidney took actions resulting in Allison’s suicide. The Parties agreed that for the convenience of all involved, the trial should be held in Anchorage. Due to the complexity of this case and the serious allegations contained therein, it has been calendared for Superior Court instead of the normal probate processes. Both sides have included on their potential witness list a psychiatrist as an expert witness — Robin Carlson for the plaintiff and Kael Bruch for the defendant. Since neither of these psychiatrists has ever personally examined Allison Latham, each relied heavily upon a diary of hers that was found after her death.In Re Estate of Latham