Center for Civic Values
Gene Franchini Mock Trial. An innovative, hands-on experience in the law for New Mexico middle school and high school students of all ages and abilities. Every year hundreds of New Mexico teenagers and their teacher advisors and attorney coaches spend the better part of the school year researching, studying and preparing a hypothetical courtroom trial involving issues that are important and interesting to young people.
BREAKING NEWS
A total of 45 teams participated in the New Mexico Mock Trial Qualifier Competition, held in Las Cruces and Albuquerque. The competition featured student teams acting as both prosecution and defense in the fictional case of State of New Mexico vs. Alec Benavidez. In this criminal case, the defendant is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Additionally, the event showcased courtroom artists and journalists, with 21 artists and 8 journalists competing. The top 16 teams and artists, along with all journalists, will advance to the state finals on March 28-29, 2025, at the Bernalillo Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque. CCV expresses its sincere gratitude to the Third Judicial District Court and the United States Federal District Court in Las Cruces for hosting the competition, as well as the Second Judicial District Court, Bernalillo Metropolitan Court, and the United States Federal District Court in Albuquerque. The event also depends on volunteers for judging, scoring, power matching each round, and supporting administrative tasks. We thank all of our volunteers for their dedication and assistance.
At the Center for Civic Values (CCV), we encourage public engagement with the law by providing accessible education and services, ensuring support for all students regardless of income, sexual orientation, background, location, or any other individual circumstances.
We further our vision by providing education and resources to encourage public participation in the law. Since 1978 CCV has been the administrator and host of various law-related education programs, including the New Mexico Middle School and Gene Franchini High School Mock Trial programs.
CCV was founded originally in 1962 as the New Mexico Bar Foundation and is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and educational corporation. Our offices are in Albuquerque, New Mexico; we have program activities throughout the state; and, our educational materials are used in classrooms and mock trial programs across the country.
CCV participates in GuideStar©, the online standard for nonprofit accountability; you may review CCV’s GuideStar(c) listing here.
