OPINION:Center for Civic Values engages Students and the community with its mock trial program

If you were standing on the corner of 4th Street and Lomas Blvd on Feb. 21 and 22, you would have seen more than 400 high school students pouring into the local and federal courthouses to compete in the qualifying rounds of the Gene Franchini Mock Trial Competition. At the same time, hundreds of other participants competed in courtrooms in Las Cruces. Our local courts help to support this annual event that has been administered by the Center for Civic Values since 1978. CCV also administers a mock trial program for students in middle school.

This year’s competition was the largest yet, with 45 high school teams from around the state vying to be one of the 16 finalists and, ultimately, the state champion. The students of Volcano Vista High School earned that honor this year. CCV will be sending that team, as well as the state champion artist and journalist, to the National Mock Trial Competition on May 7-10 in Phoenix. Congratulations to all of the winners.

All of the competitors deserve a round of applause for the months of hard work and preparation necessary to compete. This includes mastering a complex, fact-intensive “case file” of a fictional criminal matter consisting of witness statements and evidence, and learning the mock trial competition rules and rules of evidence, similar to those used in courtrooms throughout the country. Attorneys prepare direct and cross examination questions aimed at developing their themes. Witnesses learn their roles and are subject to tough cross examination. This year’s fictional case was State v. Alec Benavidez, in which the defendant was accused of first-degree murder.

A mock trial team consists of three attorneys, three witnesses and a timekeeper and may also include a journalist and artist. Before each round, teams are assigned the role of prosecution or defense, which means they must pivot on a dime and be fully prepared to present the entire case from either perspective. The round consists of an opening statement, direct and cross examination of prosecution and defense witnesses and closing arguments. Unlike a real trial, competitors are held to strict time limitations. Like a real trial, the presiding judge hears objections and arguments about the admissibility of evidence and makes other rulings. Attorneys and witnesses are scored individually. Their performances are evaluated by three “jurors” — scoring judges — who rate competitors on their demonstrated knowledge and presentation skills.

Presiding and scoring judges get a front-row seat to outstanding lawyering skills such as advocacy, quick thinking, poise, decorum and professionalism. Yet the goal of the mock trial program is not to train the next generation of attorneys. Rather, CCV’s mission is to encourage public engagement with the law by providing accessible education and services to all students. In addition to gaining an insider’s perspective of the legal system, participants gain valuable life skills that will serve them outside the courtroom, in the classroom and beyond. Public speaking, critical thinking, discipline, confidence, resilience and ability to accept constructive criticism are just a few. Mock trial also provides the opportunity for participants to meet and receive support from judges, lawyers and other members of the community.

The success of CCV’s mock trial program depends upon sponsors and hundreds of volunteers who devote their time judging, scoring, power matching and performing other administrative tasks. CCV also seeks support of local writers and artists to judge the courtroom journalist and artist competitions.

It has been my pleasure to be a small part of this program as a presiding and scoring judge and to witness the community come together to support these outstanding students. If you are interested in becoming involved, contact Kristen Leeds, CCV executive director, kristen@civicvalues.org or 505-764-9417. No legal experience required. Additional information also is available at https://civicvalues.org.