Center for Civic Values

Volcano Vista Platinum won the Championship Round at the 2012 State Finals of the Gene Franchini High School Mock Trial Competition, besting Albuquerque Academy Red in 5-0 decision. VV team member Maria Goodfellow was named an Outstanding Witness, receiving the judging panels' votes in all four preliminary rounds (votes are not given in the championship round).  AA team member Maya Durvasala won an Outstanding Attorney award.

The 2012 National Championship is scheduled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 3 - 6, 2012. More than 1,000 people from across the US and the Territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as from South Korea are expected to attend. The case materials that will be used in the event are being loosely adapted from a Navajo police mystery by famed southwestern author, Tony Hillerman.

At the Center for Civic Values (CCV), we envision a society in which all people understand, value and participate in the processes of self-government. We further our vision by providing education and resources to encourage public participation in the law. CCV's work includes management of the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and the Gene Franchini High School Mock Trial programs.

IOLTA is a partnership among financial institutions, attorneys and law firms, through which annual grants are awarded to New Mexico nonprofits that offer civil legal services for poor people, law-related education for the public, and improvements in the administration of justice.

Mock Trial is an educational initiative for high schools statewide that teaches young people about the law and the legal system. There are volunteer opportunities available for lawyers and non-lawyers through the mock trial program, and original case materials developed by CCV are available for use by others.