Center for Civic Values

Congratulations to team New Mexico for their great performance at the national championships. Shout out to Perla Cuevas for being recognized as an outstanding witness!

Day 1 of nationals is done. Two more rounds tomorrow!

New Mexico Team Heads to Iowa for the Mock Trial National Competition.

What an incredible Mock Trial State Finals! A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers, dedicated coaches, and talented students who made this event such a success. The level of preparation, teamwork, and passion on display was truly inspiring. Congratulations to all of our participants—and a special shoutout to our State Champions! We are so excited to see you represent New Mexico at the National Competition in Des Moines, Iowa this May.

Hello!

We are still recruiting judges for the State Mock Trial Finals on March 20–21, and your help would make a big difference.

Because this is the state championship competition, every courtroom needs a full panel of judges to ensure teams are evaluated fairly and students receive the meaningful experience they have worked toward all season.

Volunteer here:
https://civicvalues.org/mock-trial/registration/

Please feel free to share with colleagues who might enjoy judging. Community volunteers make this experience possible for our students.

Congratulations to all of the teams who participated last weekend.

Kelcie Hutton was awarded the 2026 Teacher Coach of the Year.
Valley High School was awarded the Michelle Giger Professionalism and Civility Award. Congratulations!

Dear Coaches and Students,

I just wanted to take a moment to say congratulations on a fantastic Mock Trial Qualifier.

Truly — every single team should be proud.

We saw so much preparation, focus, and professionalism in the courtrooms. From opening statements to objections to closing arguments, it was clear how much time and effort went into getting ready for this competition. That kind of dedication doesn’t happen by accident.

I know it can be easy to measure success only by who advances, but I hope you all know this: the difference between teams is often incredibly small. The level of competition this year was strong across the board. Every school that competed earned its place and is absolutely deserving of praise.

Mock Trial asks a lot of you — long practices, memorization, critical thinking on the spot, teamwork under pressure — all while balancing school and everything else you have going on. What you accomplished is impressive.

To our teacher and attorney coaches: thank you for the hours you invest in your students. It shows.

And to the students: thank you for the respect, sportsmanship, and heart you brought into the courtroom. That’s what makes this program special.

We are grateful you are part of it, and we hope to see all of you back next year.

The results will be posted no later than tomorrow afternoon.

With appreciation,

Kristen Leeds
Center for Civic Values

State Bar of New Mexico
New Mexico 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office
New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA)
New Mexico Black Lawyers Association
University of New Mexico School of Law
New Mexico Young Lawyers Division
Albuquerque Journal
City Desk ABQ

VOLUNTEER JUDGES NEEDED
⚖️ 51 High School Teams Registered
That’s a record-breaking season for New Mexico Mock Trial—and we need your help to make it happen!
👩‍⚖️👨‍⚖️ Presiding & Scoring Judges Needed
📚 Mock Trial Volunteering May Count Toward CLE Credits
Make a real impact by giving students an authentic courtroom experience while supporting civic education across New Mexico.
🔗 Sign up today: https://civicvalues.org/mock-trial/registration/
📍 Flexible schedules • Meaningful service • Powerful impact