Justice Through Their Eyes: Children Prepare for the Children’s Justice League Mock Trial 2026
Bringing the Justice System to Life for Young People
Understanding the law and knowing how the justice system works are important parts of understanding children’s rights. On Open Your Eyes, representatives from the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) joined the conversation to discuss the upcoming Children’s Justice League Mock Trial 2026, an initiative giving young people a closer look at the judicial system and their role in advocating for child protection and justice.
Joining the discussion were Shakira Sutherland, Executive Director of NCFC; Ana Carrillo, Child and Adolescent Participation Officer; and Karissa Young, a 17-year-old participant serving as a magistrate in this year’s mock trial.
Now in its second cohort, the Children’s Justice League builds on the experience of the National Children’s Parliament. While the parliament introduces young people to the legislative branch of government and the process of making laws, the mock trial focuses on the judicial branch and how laws are applied through the courts.
From Learning About Laws to Understanding the Courts
Sutherland explained that NCFC wants children to be more than observers in conversations about issues affecting them. The initiative creates opportunities for young people to participate, develop their understanding of government institutions, and have their voices heard.
The programme brings together NCFC and legal professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to guide the participants. After an initial application and interview process, the selected children receive an introduction to the court system, learn about the case being presented, and are assigned specific roles.
These include magistrates, attorneys representing the applicant and respondent, witnesses, social workers, and bailiffs. As the mock trial approaches, participants receive more focused training to understand the responsibilities associated with their assigned roles.
Carrillo explained that the training takes place twice a week, with sessions lasting approximately two to three hours and sometimes extending to four hours. The preparation requires a significant commitment from both the children and the professionals supporting them.
A Family Court Case Focused on Child Protection
This year’s mock trial will feature a family matter, moving from the civil matter presented during the first cohort. The proceedings will take place in the Family Court and involve 23 participants, each assigned a role in the simulated case.
A key part of the preparation involves familiarizing participants with the Families and Children Act and understanding how legislation can be applied in matters involving children. NCFC is using the exercise to reinforce the importance of child protection, children’s rights, and the principle of acting in the best interests of the child.
The programme also connects with NCFC’s Blue Teddy Bear Campaign, further emphasizing the importance of protecting children and ensuring that their rights are recognized.
To support participants throughout the process, NCFC has also included a counsellor and a social worker as part of its committee, providing additional support as the children engage with the subject matter.
Learning the Law Through Experience
For Karissa Young, the opportunity to participate in the mock trial builds on her previous experience with the National Children’s Parliament. She first joined the parliament at age 15 after encouragement from a friend and developed an interest in understanding how laws are created and how young people can advocate for their rights.
When the opportunity to join the Children’s Justice League came along, she was eager to participate again. Now serving as a magistrate, Young said the experience has expanded her understanding of the justice system, including the different courts, court procedures, and the distinction between how court cases are portrayed on television and how proceedings actually take place.
She also reflected on how the experience connected the two initiatives: learning how bills are developed through the children’s parliament and then seeing how laws are applied through the courts.
Young noted that having this knowledge is important because it helps young people understand their rights and the proper channels to follow if they ever encounter legal issues.
Public Invited to Follow the Mock Trial
The Children’s Justice League Mock Trial 2026 will take place on November 20, in recognition of World Children’s Day, under the theme “My Day, My Rights, My Future.”
The proceedings will be livestreamed, with commentary beginning at approximately 9:00 AM and the trial scheduled to start at 9:30 AM. Members of the public can follow the broadcast through NCFC’s Facebook and YouTube platforms, as well as the Government Press Office.
Through this initiative, NCFC, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Human Development are creating an opportunity for children to engage with the justice system, better understand the laws designed to protect them, and recognize the importance of having a voice in decisions that affect their lives.