be inspired.
Letter From the President ERINNA M. “ERIN” ATKINS
Dear friends and colleagues,
The Annual Meeting has arrived! Welcome to the State Bar of New Mexico’s most anticipated event of the year. From insightful CLEs to social gatherings throughout the day, the Annual Meeting is an all-inclusive experience for our amazing legal community. I hope, once the day is over, that you will “Be Inspired” by the content of this year’s Annual Meeting.
Befitting this theme that is so important to me, our keynote speaker is the highly inspirational Camille M. Vasquez, Esq. Ms. Vasquez achieved national fame when she played a key role in the Depp v. Heard defamation case that enthralled so many Americans. I felt Ms. Vasquez and her message would be a perfect way to kick off this exciting event. During her keynote address, Ms. Vasquez will be discussing her inspirational story with an emphasis on why a personal brand matters.
The keynote address will be directly followed by the Judicial Roundtables session. Led by several members of New Mexico’s judiciary, the Judicial Roundtables session will give attorneys and other legal professionals a golden opportunity to listen to members of New Mexico’s judiciary speak to their experience in the profession and role as a judge or justice. This session will be a great chance to facilitate an important dialogue that can inform the journeys of aspiring attorneys and other legal professionals while giving members of our judiciary a moment to impart their cherished wisdom and knowledge, creating an inspirational exchange between the bench and bar.
A fun lunch break will follow the Judicial Roundtables session. Featuring food trucks, serving everything from Hispanic cuisine to comfort food, the lunch break will be a great time for us to all come together and socialize after a full morning of inspirational stories.
After our lunch break, the afternoon will consist of two additional CLE sessions. The first, “Representation Matters: Debunking New Mexico’s TriCultural Myth within the Legal Profession,” will be co-led by New Mexico Black Lawyers Association Vice-President Jennifer "Nikki" Berry, Esq. and State Bar of New Mexico President-Elect Aja N. Brooks, Esq. As accomplished attorneys in their fields with valuable insight on a variety of issues, this CLE will highlight the importance of diversity in the legal profession and will illustrate how Black attorneys in New Mexico have helped shape the legal landscape as it is known today in New Mexico.
“Raising the Bar for the Bar…and the Rest of Society!,” our final CLE session for the day, will be presented by Stuart I. Teicher, Esq. A frequent collaborator with the State Bar of New Mexico, Mr. Teicher’s CLE presentations are always full of incredible energy. I have faith that this CLE, which will cover the connection between professionalism and setting high goals in the legal field, will paint a vibrant picture of how we as attorneys should always aim higher by implementing values of professionalism and integrating the discipline to hold true to those values.
To end the day, there will be a ceremony for the State Bar’s Annual Awards followed by the President’s Reception. This year, the Annual Awards presentation will include videos with a few words from the nominators of each of the Annual Award recipients. We asked the nominators one question: “What inspired you to nominate this person for this Annual Award?” Their responses include heartfelt stories about how the awardee exemplifies the best of the legal profession and how they serve as an inspiration within their award’s category.
Throughout the afternoon and during the President’s Reception, there will be raffle drawings for one of the four fabulous staycation packages. All proceeds from the raffle benefit the New Mexico State Bar Foundation.. Be sure and stop by the raffle table in the lobby to buy a ticket at $100 each. You can also purchase raffle tickets online until 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 at https://form.jotform/sbnm/bar-foundation-raffle. We hope you will purchase a raffle ticket and help support the New Mexico State Bar Foundation and its mission.
By returning to the State Bar Center for this year’s Annual Meeting, its first time here since 2021, the Annual Meeting does look “a little different.” However, I think the Annual Meeting stands for, effectively, the same values each year, which are informed by our sense of professionalism and shared principles of justice for all. As those values lay the foundation for each Annual Meeting, let us not grow weary of them; rather, let us “be inspired” by them. These are the values that shape our development as attorneys. As today’s event goes on, I want us all to keep this question on the back of our minds: “What inspires me?”
Sincerely,
Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins, President State Bar of New Mexico
State Bar of New Mexico Table Contentsof
Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins, President
Aja N. Brooks, President-Elect
Allison H. Block-Chavez, Secretary-Treasurer
Benjamin I. Sherman, Immediate Past President
BOARD OF BAR COMMISSIONERS
First Judicial District
Olga Serafimova
Elizabeth J. Travis
Andréa Salazar
Second Judicial District
Allison H. Block-Chavez
Aja N. Brooks
Tomas J. Garcia
Steven S. Scholl
Benjamin I. Sherman
Lucy H. Sinkular
Third and Sixth Judicial Districts
Rosenda Chavez-Lara
Connie J. Flores
David P. Lutz
Fourth and Eighth Judicial Districts
Brett Phelps
Fifth Judicial District
Parker B. Folse
Seventh and Thirteenth Judicial Districts
Jessica A. Perez
Simone M. Seiler
Ninth and Tenth Judicial Districts
Mitchell L. Mender
Eleventh Judicial District
Joseph F. Sawyer
Twelfth Judicial District
Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins
Out-of-State District
Sean M. FitzPatrick
Senior Lawyers Division Delegate
Daniel J. Behles
Young Lawyers Division Chair
Randy Taylor
Paralegal Division Liaison
Meryl Sutton
Richard B. Spinello, Executive Director Est. 1886
Letter from the State Bar of New Mexico President
Letter from the New Mexico State Bar Foundation President About the New Mexico State Bar Foundation
New Mexico State Bar Foundation's 2024 New Mexico Staycation Raffle
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Annual Meeting Program Schedule CLE Session Descriptions and Speakers
Annual Meeting On-Demand Library Information General Information State Bar Center Map Annual Awards
In Memoriam & Past Presidents
©2024, State Bar of New Mexico. This publication and its contents may not, in whole or in part, be reproduced, copied, disseminated, entered into a computer database, used as part of or in connection with a mailing list or otherwise used in any form or manner or by any means, except for the user’s individual, personal and confidential reference. Appearance of advertisement, photographs or other materials does not constitute an endorsement by the State Bar of New Mexico. The Annual Meeting Program is published by the State Bar of New Mexico, 5121 Masthead NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109-4367. 505-797-6000 • 800-876-6227 • Fax: 505-828-3765 • www.sbnm.org 3 6 7 8 11 12 13 15 18 21 22 26
AnInspiring Getaway
A Message from New Mexico State Bar Foundation President GERALD G. “JERRY” DIXON
Dear friends and colleagues,
This year, we celebrate the 2024 Annual Meeting right at home at the State Bar Center in Albuquerque. State Bar of New Mexico President Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins and the State Bar staff have worked tirelessly to put together an outstanding program this year. It has been my pleasure to lead the New Mexico State Bar Foundation’s role in the Annual Meeting. We are excited to showcase the New Mexico State Bar Foundation’s “2024 New Mexico Staycation Raffle,” offering a chance to win one of four luxurious in-state vacation packages, each valued at over $1,000. All proceeds from the raffle benefit the New Mexico State Bar Foundation and its vital civil legal service programs. The four New Mexico Staycation packages are as follows.
Taos Explorer Package: Experience the charm of Taos with a one-night stay at the Blake Hotel, a thrilling half-day raft trip for two, four tickets to the Kit Carson House & Museum, and an enchanting Ghost Ranch tour, topped off with a $150 dinner certificate at Lambert's of Taos.
Santa Fe Night at the Opera Package: Enjoy a night in our historic capital city, including a one-night stay at any Heritage Hotel, two Santa Fe Opera tickets for the 2025 season, four passes to Meow Wolf and a serene experience at Ten Thousand Waves Spa. Savor the evening with gift certificates to Cowgirl BBQ and the New Mexico Hard Cider Taproom.
Albuquerque Balloon Adventure Package: Soar above the city with a hot air balloon ride for two, followed by a night at Isleta Resort & Casino, a private hot tub session at Betty’s Bath and Day Spa and a show at the Albuquerque Little Theatre. Conclude your adventure with a $100 dinner at Embers Steakhouse.
Carlsbad 2024 Holiday on the Pecos Package: Celebrate the holidays in Carlsbad with a stay at the Trinity Hotel & Restaurant, complete with wine tasting, dinner, breakfast and an additional night at Fiddler’s Inn. Enjoy the magical Christmas on the Pecos boat ride, visit the Carlsbad Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, and dine with a $75 certificate at Red Chimney Bar-B-Q, which is hands-down one of New Mexico’s most delicious barbeque restaurants.
It’s not too late to purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of these incredible packages! Tickets are available for $100 each at the raffle table in the State Bar Center lobby at any time during the Annual Meeting, or are available to purchase online until 1 p.m. (MT) on Oct. 25 at https://form.jotform/sbnm/bar-foundation-raffle
All proceeds from the 2024 New Mexico Staycation Raffle will support our mission to serve New Mexicans through civil legal services. The New Mexico State Bar Foundation and its programs rely on our state’s legal community for its resources and contributions. Your financial support of the New Mexico State Bar Foundation will provide immediate and direct benefit to New Mexico residents in a profound way. Please dig deep into your charitable pocketbook to invest in these worthwhile legal service programs. Win or lose, I promise that you will be helping others and at the same time your investment might just result in an opportunity to be inspired by the unique beauty and diversity in the Land of Enchantment.
Best wishes for an entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable Annual Meeting.
Enthusiastically!
Gerald G. “Jerry” Dixon, President New Mexico State Bar Foundation
With your Support,
The New Mexico State Bar Foundation provides the following benefits:
Provides free legal services statewide to underserved New Mexicans through the following: Programs
• Modest Means Helpline
• Legal Resources for the Elderly Program
• ABA Free Legal Answers Program Workshops
• Small Business Workshops
• Divorce Options Workshops
• Consumer Debt/Bankruptcy Workshops
Provides legal education
Provides opportunities to earn pro bono hours
The New Mexico State Bar Foundation advances the legal community’s commitment to serve the legal profession and people of New Mexico. Through member donations, fundraising and programs, the Foundation provides and promotes access to legal services to underserved New Mexicans. The Foundation also supports public service, education, and diversity, as well as organizations consistent with this mission.
about opportunities to support the Bar Foundation by visiting www.sbnm.org/Bar-Foundation or contacting 505-797-6000 or info@sbnm.org.
The New Mexico State Bar Foundation gratefully accepts donations year-round. Donate at www.sbnm.org/donate.
Help Support the New Mexico State Bar Foundation! Enter to Win One of Four Fabulous
NM Staycation Packages
(Valued At Over $1,000 Each)!
Buy a raffle ticket at $100 each for a chance to win one of four fabulous New Mexico Staycation Packages! The raffle winners will be contacted after the State Bar of New Mexico’s Annual Meeting on Oct. 25. You don’t need to be present to win!
Taos Explorer Package
% One night stay at the luxurious Blake Hotel in Taos, New Mexico
% Exhilarating Half-Day Raft Trip for two hosted by Los Rios River Runners
% Four tickets to the Kit Carson House Museum
% Stunning tour of Ghost Ranch for two
% $150 dining certificate for an upscale dinner at Lambert’s of Taos
Santa Fe Night At The Opera Package
% Two Santa Fe Opera Tickets for the 2025 Opera Season
% One night stay at any Heritage Hotel of your choice
% Four passes to the immersive art installations at Meow Wolf Santa Fe House of Eternal Return
% Relax the stress away with a $200 certificate to the tranquil Ten Thousand Waves Spa
% $50 dining certificate to Cowgirl BBQ in Santa Fe
% $50 gift certificate to New Mexico Hard Cider Taproom
Albuquerque Balloon Adventure Package
% Majestic hot air balloon ride for two people in Albuquerque, New Mexico piloted by Elevated New Mexico
% One night stay for two at the exciting Isleta Resort & Casino
% Soak away your tension with a 30-minute private hot tub session at Betty’s Bath and Day Spa
% $100 dining certificate to the award-winning Embers Steakhouse at Isleta Resort & Casino
% Two tickets to your show of choice at the Albuquerque Little Theater
Carlsbad 2024 Holiday On The Pecos Package
For Four People
% Make priceless memories with four of your family members or closest friends by spending the 2024 winter holidays in Carlsbad, New Mexico with two cozy hotel rooms, wine tasting, dinner and breakfast for one night at the historic Trinity Hotel & Restaurant
% Enjoy one luxurious hotel room for one night at the Fiddler’s Inn
% Four tickets to experience Christmas on the Pecos - an enchanting boat ride through dazzling winter light displays along the Pecos River!
% Explore the beautiful Carlsbad Living Desert Museum for four
% $75 dining certificate to Red Chimney Bar-B-Q
www.sbnm.org/2024Raffle
To All of Our Sponsors That Make This a Successful Event!
TOP-TIER SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor
Law Firm Presenting Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors
Program Sponsors
Meal Sponsor
Digital Sponsors
Exhibitors and Sponsor Tables
7:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
9 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
10:50 a.m.
11:50 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
1:50 p.m.
Annual Meeting Program Schedule
Friday, October 25
In-Person Check-In Opens, Breakfast and Networking State Bar Center Lobby
Virtual Program Begins
Annual Meeting Welcome Auditorium
State Bar of New Mexico President Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins and New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson
SESSION 1:
Keynote Address (1.5 G) Auditorium
Camille M. Vasquez, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Break
SESSION 2:
Judicial Roundtables and Panel (1.0 G) Classrooms and Auditorium
Lunch Break – Food Trucks West Lawn and Classrooms
State Bar Foundation Remarks and Raffle Drawing #1 Auditorium
Gerald G. “Jerry” Dixon, New Mexico State Bar Foundation President
SESSION 3:
Representation Matters: Debunking New Mexico’s Tri-Cultural Myth within the Legal Profession (1.0 EIJ) Auditorium
Jennifer "Nikki" Berry, Esq., Vice-President, New Mexico Black Lawyers Association and Aja N. Brooks, Esq., President-Elect, State Bar of New Mexico
2:50 p.m.
3:10 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
Immediately following
Break
New Mexico State Bar Foundation Raffle Drawings #2 and #3 Auditorium
SESSION 4:
Raising the Bar for the Bar… and the Rest of Society! (1.5 EP) Auditorium
Stuart I. Teicher, Esq. “The CLE Performer”
President’s Closing Remarks/Adjourn Auditorium
State Bar of New Mexico Annual Awards Presentation
Auditorium and livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/7rcp6EJ5K7g
President’s Reception Classrooms
New Mexico State Bar Foundation Raffle Drawing #4
CLE Session Descriptions and Speakers
Keynote Address (1.5 G)
Camille M. Vasquez, Esq.
Partner in the Business Trial Practice Group at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
9 a.m. - Auditorium
Keynote speaker Camille M. Vasquez, Esq., partner in the Business Trial Practice Group at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, has over 10 years of experience as a trial lawyer in high-stakes disputes, as well as an impressive background in commercial litigation, entertainment law and defamation. Vasquez quickly became one of the nation’s most recognized attorneys in 2022, when she held a key role in the Depp v. Heard defamation case. Since then, Vasquez has joined NBC News as a legal analyst and has become an inspirational figure for ambitious attorneys.
In keeping with this year’s Annual Meeting theme of “Be Inspired”, Camille M. Vasquez, Esq. will be presenting her own inspirational story and sharing her valuable insight on the importance of personal branding and reputation as a legal professional.
Camille M. Vasquez, Esq. is a San Francisco-born and first-generation American of Hispanic heritage. Before Vasquez became an attorney and litigator, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California, where she studied communications and political science. Vasquez received her Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School in 2010.
JUDICIAL ROUNDTABLES AND PANEL (1.0 G)
Chief Justice David K. Thomson, New Mexico Supreme Court
Chief Judge Jennifer L. Attrep, New Mexico Court of Appeals
Chief Judge Bryan Biedscheid, First Judicial District Court, Santa Fe
Chief Judge Joshua J. Sanchez, Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
Judge Lisa Chavez Ortega, Second Judicial District Court, Albuquerque
Judge Dustin K. Hunter, Fifth Judicial District Court, Roswell
Judge Bradford J. Dalley, Eleventh Judicial District Court, Farmington
Judge Curtis R. Gurley, Eleventh Judicial District Court, Aztec
Judge James A. Noel, Thirteenth Judicial District Court, Sandoval County
10:50 a.m. – Auditorium and Classrooms
Members of New Mexico’s judiciary, including representatives from the Appellate, District and Metro Courts, will be interacting with Annual Meeting attendees, both in-person and virtually, on a variety of issues, including content related to the 2024 Annual Meeting’s “Be Inspired” theme and topics important to New Mexico’s legal community. The judges and justices will also answer questions pertaining to the interests of legal professionals in New Mexico.
REPRESENTATION MATTERS: DEBUNKING NEW MEXICO’S TRI-CULTURAL MYTH WITHIN THE LEGAL PROFESSION (1.0 EIJ)
Jennifer Nicole “Nikki” Berry, Esq. and Aja N. Brooks, Esq.
1:50 p.m. – Auditorium
This presentation will highlight the contributions of Black attorneys in New Mexico and will include information on why diversity is vital to the future of the legal profession.
Jennifer Nicole “Nikki” Berry, Esq., is a native New Mexican, raised in Tome. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s of Arts in 2012 and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2021. Nikki serves as the VicePresident of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association and is proud to be a criminal defense attorney.
Aja Nicole Brooks, Esq. is a native New Mexican, born in Hobbs. She graduated from Wake Forest University with her Bachelor of Arts in 2005, and received her juris doctorate in 2008 from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Aja serves as the President-Elect of the State Bar of New Mexico and as a past President of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association and State Bar of New Mexico Foundation. She is a proud member of the Iota Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Stuart I. Teicher, Esq.
3:15 p.m. - Auditorium
Join nationally recognized speaker Stuart I. Teicher, Esq. as he explains how concepts of professionalism encourage lawyers to aspire higher. Teicher explains that if we do so, we can elevate the profession’s image and have a hugely positive impact on society.
Stuart I. Teicher, Esq. is a professional legal educator and author who focuses on ethics law and writing instruction. A practicing lawyer for 30 years, Stuart’s career is now dedicated to helping fellow lawyers survive the practice of law and thrive in the profession. Mr. Teicher teaches seminars, provides in-house training to law firms and legal departments, provides CLE instruction at law firm client events, and also gives keynote speeches at conventions and association meetings.
Stuart helps lawyers get better at what they do (and enjoy the process) through his entertaining and educational CLE “performances”. He speaks, teaches, and writes— Thomson Reuters published his book, Navigating the Legal Ethics of Social Media and Technology. His latest book is available now, entitled, How to Stop Hating the Law: A Path to Hope for Miserable Lawyers.
Mr. Teicher is a Supreme Court appointee to the New Jersey District Ethics Committee where he investigates and prosecutes grievances filed against attorneys. Mr. Teicher also served on the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics Fee Arbitration Committee. Mr. Teicher is an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law where he teaches Professional Responsibility. Mr. Teicher is also an adjunct professor at Rutgers University in New Brunswick where he teaches undergraduate writing courses. He also taught legal writing at St. John’s University School of Law in New York City. Mr. Teicher is the recipient of the Charles Fahy Distinguished Adjunct Professor Award from Georgetown Law, and the “Distinguished Contributions to the Writing Program” Award from Rutgers University.
Annual Meeting On-Demand Library Information
Complete the remaining 7 CLE credits at your convenience with special access to the Annual Meeting on-demand CLE library. You will receive an email from cleonline@sbnm. org the week following the Annual Meeting with information on how to access your ondemand courses. The email will also contain a link to the special library of on-demand courses. The special library will include General, Ethics and Professionalism, and Equity In Justice courses. A coupon covering the cost for 7 on-demand courses will be added to your account during the week following the Annual Meeting. Once in the on-demand library, you will add 7 courses to your cart and then, upon checkout, the coupon will be automatically applied. You must select all 7 courses at once.
Credits from your on-demand courses will be reported directly by the Center for Legal Education to New Mexico MCLE within 30 days of completion. No action or documentation is needed on your part.
Clio offers:
• Centralized case management for everything from intake to billing
• Industry-leading security that exceeds compliance guidelines
• Award-winning support every step of the way
Free, confidential assistance to help identify and address problems with alcohol, drugs, depression, and other mental health issues.
“Thanks to LAP, I am happier, healthier and stronger than I have ever been in my entire life!” –KA
State Bar of New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program
“Through LAP, I’ve been given the freedom to become the person that I’ve always wanted to be. This program saved my life and my family.” –SM
A healthier, happier future is a phone call away. Confidential assistance – 24 hours every day.
Statewide Helpline for Lawyers, Law Students, and Legal Professionals: 505-228-1948
Judges Helpline: 505-420-8179
www.sbnm.org/NMLAP
General Information
In-Person Attendee Check-In
For in-person attendees, all meetings and events will be held at the State Bar of New Mexico’s State Bar Center located at 5121 Masthead St NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 on October 25, 2024. Registration includes CLE programs, materials, MCLE filing fees, breakfast and lunch for in-person attendees, snacks and the President’s Reception. The check-in desk will be opening in the lobby of the State Bar Center at 7:30 a.m.
Virtual Attendee Connection
Virtual attendees will receive emails from both webinars@blueskyelearn.com and cleonline@sbnm.org with instructions for joining the livestream. Additionally, attendees may follow the instructions below to access the livestream:
1. Log in to your State Bar of New Mexico Account by selecting 'Login' on the top right corner of your screen.
2. Navigate to 'CLE & Events' on the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Select 'Find a CLE Course' from the dropdown menu.
4. You should see the 2024 Annual Meeting program page under the 'My Activities' section of your screen. Click the course title and join the livestream.
If you have any issues or questions about joining the livestream, please contact the Center for Legal Education at 505-797-6020 or cleonline@sbnm.org. The livestream of the Annual Meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on October 25.
CLE Credits and Attendance Records
The 2024 Annual Meeting program has been approved for 5 CLE credits. For in-person attendees to receive credit, complete the CLE attendance record that will be given to you upon check-in. Virtual attendees’ credits are electronically documented, with no need for additional documentation. All credits will be reported directly by the Center for Legal Education to New Mexico MCLE.
Earn Up To 7 Additional CLE Credits - Annual Meeting On-Demand CLE Library
Complete the remaining 7 CLE credits at your convenience with special access to the Annual Meeting on-demand CLE library. You will receive an email from cleonline@sbnm.org the week following the Annual Meeting with information on how to access your on-demand courses. The email will also contain a link to the special library of on-demand courses. The special library will include General, Ethics and Professionalism, and Equity In Justice courses. A coupon covering the cost for 7 on-demand courses will be added to your account during the week following the Annual Meeting. Once in the on-demand library, you will add 7 courses to your cart and then, upon checkout, the coupon will be automatically applied. You must select all 7 courses at once.
Credits from your on-demand courses will be reported directly by the Center for Legal Education to New Mexico MCLE within 30 days of completion. No action or documentation is needed on your part. All on-demand courses must be registered for and completed no later than Jan. 31, 2025. Please contact cleonline@sbnm.org with any questions.
Lunch – Food Trucks
The cost of lunch is included in the cost of registration for Annual Meeting in-person attendees. In-person attendees can choose their delicious lunch from one of four fantastic local food trucks:
• Pack’N Bowlz - Fresh bowls with a base of rice, romaine or mixed greens
• Munchie Truck - A little of everything with local New Mexico flavor
• Mi Taco Su Taco - Tacos!
• American Chinese 2 - American Chinese food at its best
Exhibitors and Sponsor Tables
Please visit the exhibitor booths and sponsor tables located in the State Bar Center lobby at any time during the event to learn more about their services and special Annual Meeting offers.
State Bar of New Mexico Annual Awards Presentation
Please attend the 2024 State Bar of New Mexico Annual Awards Presentation that will be taking place at 5:15 p.m. in the Auditorium. This year's Annual Awards will also be livestreamed on the State Bar of New Mexico's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/live/7rcp6EJ5K7g. You are guaranteed to #BeInspired by this year’s award recipients!
President’s Reception
Finish this year’s Annual Meeting on a great note by joining State Bar of New Mexico President Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins and your colleagues at the President’s Reception in the Classrooms immediately following the awards presentation. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Make sure to stop by the Mocktail Bar hosted by the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. There will also be live entertainment by guitarist Shane Wallin!
S tate Bar Center Map
S econd Floor
Congratulations to the
2024 Annual Awards Recipients
Distinguished Bar Service Non-Lawyer Award
KATINA WATSON
Recognizes non-lawyers who have provided valuable service and contributions to the legal profession over a significant period of time.
Katina Watson is the Court Executive Officer for the Second Judicial District Court where she is responsible for the non-judicial operations including court programs and services, human resources, information technology, budgeting, and serves as the Clerk of Court. Prior to joining the Second Judicial District Court in 2021, she served as the CEO for the Twelfth Judicial District Court for nine years. Over her tenure with the New Mexico judiciary, she has served on various committees including Budget, Personnel Rules, Classification and Compensation, Performance Measures, Workforce Investment, and Judicial and Staff Workload Studies. In 2018, she was the first CEO to pilot the statewide consolidation of New Mexico District and Magistrate Courts. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration from Michigan State University.
Excellence in Well-Being Award BRIGGS F. CHENEY
This award was created to recognize an individual or organization that has made an outstanding positive contribution towards change in the New Mexico legal profession’s well-being, including destigmatizing mental health, strengthening resilience and creating a synergic approach to work and life.
Not by design but happenstance, Briggs Cheney’s career in the law has been that of being a lawyer’s lawyer.
For the better part of almost 52 years of practice, Briggs has had the honor of helping lawyers throughout New Mexico - defending them in the civil arena and guiding them through the disciplinary process.
Briggs has been recognized for his legal skills in representing lawyers and he has been a leader in local, state and national bars. He has tirelessly helped the struggling and suffering lawyer as others helped him.
Judge Sarah M. Singleton
Distinguished Service Award
GEORGE DAVID GIDDENS, JR.
Recognizes attorneys who have provided valuable service and contributions to the legal profession, the State Bar of New Mexico, and the public over a significant period of time.
A New Mexico attorney since 1983, in 1997 Dave Giddens founded the firm that became Giddens & Gatton Law, P.C. Dave obtained undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kansas.
His achievements include: Best Lawyers in America in four practice areas, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation Bankruptcy, Real Estate Law, 2018 & 2021 Albuquerque Bankruptcy/Creditor Debtor Rights Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year, 2024 Albuquerque Real Estate Lawyer of the Year, 2013 Top Rated Lawyer Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy, Southwest Super Lawyer 2009, 2012-2024 and 2011’s Best of the Bar in Bankruptcy by NM Business Weekly. He consistently received Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating, AV, for more than 15 years.
Dave’s goal was to always serve clients with expertise and compassion. After 41 years of representing clients and mentoring other attorneys, Dave retired at the end of June 2024.
Justice Pamela B. Minzner Professionalism Award
M. MITCHELL MOSS
Recognizes attorneys and/or judges who, over long and distinguished legal careers, have by their ethical and personal conduct exemplified for their fellow attorneys the epitome of professionalism.
Mitchell Moss is a respected litigator with extensive courtroom and trial experience, advising and representing individuals and corporations in matters related to commercial disputes, labor and employment, medical, legal and professional malpractice, catastrophic injury and all aspects of insurance defense.
Mitch has tried more than 100 jury cases and resolved thousands of cases, without going to trial, for the benefit of his clients. He is licensed in both Texas and New Mexico. Mitch is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. A certified mediator and arbitrator, he has mediated thousands of cases and also served as an arbitrator many times.
In addition to advising and representing individuals and corporations, Mitch has successfully resolved death cases; some while representing defendants and others while acting on behalf of plaintiffs. He has also handled administrative matters with the Texas Board of Medical Examiners, the Board of Nursing Examiners, the National Labor Relations Board, the Texas Education Commission and the New Mexico Workers Compensation Administration.
Mitch has been recognized as a Texas ‘Super Lawyer’ by the publishers of Texas Monthly- Law & Politics Magazine since 2018. In 2023, Mitch was honored as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Central and West Texas by Texas Super Lawyers. He was also recognized as the “Mediator of the Year” by the El Paso Bar Association in 2024.
Mitch served as the President of the El Paso Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 20212022. He is a member of the George A. McAlmon American Inn of Court and the El Paso Bar Association.
A graduate of Texas Tech University School of Law, Mitch is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars related to business and personal injury law. He resides in Anthony, New Mexico with his wife, Diana, and children Madison, Matthew and Mia Faith.
Outstanding Legal Organization Award
AMERICAN INDIAN LAW CENTER PLSI JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP COMMITTEE
Recognizes outstanding, extraordinary law-related organizations or programs that serve the legal profession and the public.
The American Indian Law Center’s Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) for American Indians and Alaska Natives started as an 8-week pre-law program in 1967. In 2013, a small group of PLSI alumni dedicated themselves to increasing the number of Native American judicial clerks and judges across all judicial benches. Before 2013, the program produced only six judicial clerks going back over 45 years since the creation of the PLSI program. The Committee started by discussing their clerkship experiences with students and informing them of the benefits of a judicial clerkship. The first PLSI class to work with the Committee graduated from law school in 2016. Since 2016, the PLSI Judicial Clerkship Program has produced 32 judicial clerks in 39 state and federal judicial clerkships (some have completed more than one judicial clerkship). This includes clerkships in several U.S. Courts of Appeals, federal district courts, and state supreme courts. This remarkable increase in Native American judicial clerks can be traced to the Committee’s unwavering commitment to the program and students.
The scope of the committee’s work includes outreach to students through panel presentations at conferences, offering meaningful mentorship opportunities, coaching on clerkship application materials, and funding students to attend professional development workshops. They also developed the PLSI Judicial Clerkship Handbook, a comprehensive guide designed to help students navigate the application and hiring process. The handbook also includes a section on applying for tribal court clerkships. https://www.ailc-inc. org/plsi/judicial-clerkship/.
The committee is currently comprised of eleven PLSI alumni, all of whom have completed at least one judicial clerkship: Lydia Locklear, Chair (PLSI 2014), Alma Buena (PLSI 2020), Jens Camp (PLSI 2019), Rodina Cave Parnall (PLSI 1998), Tim Devine (PLSI 2020), Kateri Eisenberg (PLSI 2018), Joaquin Gallegos (PLSI 2016), Alexander Mallory (PLSI 2016), Doreen McPaul (PLSI 1998), Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis (PLSI 1992), and Roshanna Toya (PLSI 2016).
Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award
CAMERON S. BUSH
Awarded to attorneys who have, during the formative stages of their legal careers by their ethical and personal conduct, exemplified for their fellow attorneys the epitome of professionalism by demonstrating a commitment to clients’ causes and to public service, enhancing the image of the legal profession.
Cameron Bush is the owner of Bush Injury Law, a personal injury law firm based in Albuquerque, but serving clients all over New Mexico and Texas. Outside of managing his law firm, Cameron serves as a committee member and attorney monitor for the New Mexico Lawyers Assistance Program (NM LAP).
Cameron’s greatest inspirations are his wife, Karla, who he affectionately refers to as his “secret weapon,” his late grandfather, “Pa” who taught him much about business, life, and the art of haggling, and the many men and women of the Texas and New Mexico LAPs who mentored him during his early sobriety, teaching him to “give freely, what was so freely given to you.”
Robert H. LaFollette Pro Bono Award
RONALD T. TAYLOR
Presented to an attorney who has made an exemplary contribution of time and effort, without compensation, to provide legal assistance over his or her career to people who could not afford the assistance of an attorney.
Ron Taylor is an Albuquerque native, married, with three children and seven grandchildren. Ron did his undergrad work at Berkeley and then graduated UNM Law with the “infamous” class of 1966.
After law school, Ron worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two and half years in Venezuela, working with two small community city councils. He also worked with several outlying, small groups of peasant farm families to help them develop filtrated water systems.
After the Peace Core—and following his passion to one day work on ocean-going ships—Ron worked for a year as a deckman on cargo ships in the Pacific Ocean and Bearing Sea.
Ron then returned to Albuquerque to set up his law practice as a sole practitioner where he practiced for over fifty-two years. Ron worked and litigated in the areas of personal injury, estates, property law, as well as commercial law. Ron also made every effort to take on at least two pro bono cases a year through New Mexico Legal Aid and to provide legal services for at least one of the Law-La-Palooza legal fairs each year.
Ron tips his hat to all the the other New Mexico lawyers who have given of their time to perform pro bono legal work, whether it be for New Mexico Legal Aid, or for any of the other community-based organizations, or to just help on their own an indigenous person or family in need of legal assistance.
Ron is deeply honored to receive the Robert LaFollette volunteer attorney award.
Justice Seth D. Montgomery
Distinguished Judicial Service Award JUDGE ROBERT HAYES SCOTT
Recognizes judges who have distinguished themselves through long and exemplary service on the bench and who have significantly advanced the administration of justice or improved the relations between the bench and the bar.
Judge Robert Hayes Scott is a native New Mexican who was born in Albuquerque. He attended the Albuquerque Public Schools and the University of New Mexico. He received his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of New Mexico. He is a graduate of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. Judge Scott served as Probate Judge for Bernalillo County, a District Court Judge for the Second Judicial District (Civil Division and Family Court) and subsequently was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Federal Court for the District of New Mexico.
Judge Scott was active in the State Bar Association, serving as a Board member on the Senior Law Committee and one term as the President of the New Mexico District Judges Division. In 2008, Federal Judge Scott presided over prisoner consent verification cases in Seoul, Korea. Hearings were conducted at Daejeon Prison, south of Seoul. These hearings were the first of their kind in the history of the Republic of Korea. Judge Scott was the trial judge for the famous McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case.
In Memoriam
Names
received September 2023 – October 2024
Douglas J. Antoon
James A. Askew
Dawn Sturdevant Baum
Arthur O'Neal Beach
Bruce Boynton III
James L. Brandenburg
David W. Bunting
Arthur L. Bustos
Gerald H. Chakerian
Kerry M. Comiskey
Thomas Charles Esquibel
Don M. Fedric
Robert M. Fiser
Harold L. Folley
Georgina R. Fowlie
Mark P. Geiger
C. Leroy Hansen
Wade L. Jackson
Val R. Jolley
Allen Mark Kerpan
Hon. Mark B. McFeeley
Gerald L. McManus
F. Chester Miller III
Charles D. Noland
David L. Norvell
Victor R. Ortega
Alice Nystel Page
J. Victor Pongetti
Past Presidents
1800s
William A. Vincent (1886)
Neil B. Field (1887, 1896)
S. B. Newcomb (1888)
Frank Springer (1889)
F. W. Clancy (1890)
W. C. Hazeldine (1891)
A. B. Elliott (1892)
A. A. Jones (1893)
James G. Fitch (1894)
T. B. Catron (1895)
A. B. Fall (1897)
R. E. Twitchell (1898–1899)
1900s
A. A. Freeman (1900)
E. A. Fisk (1901)
W. B. Childers (1902)
A. A. Harlee (1903)
W. C. Wrigley (1904)
G. A. Richardson (1905)
W. A. Hawkins (1906)
A. B. Renehan (1907)
A. B. McMillen (1908)
Edward C. Wade (1909)
Charles A. Spiess (1910)
J. M. Hervey (1911, 1925–1926)
W.B. Walton (1912)
Francis C. Wilson (1913)
M. E. Hickey (1914)
Reed Holloman (1915)
Clarence M. Botts (1916)
Hiram M. Dow (1917, 1935–1936)
W. G. Hayden (1918, 1932–1933)
J. L. Lawson (1919–1920)
Orie L. Phillips (1921–1924)
A. H. Hudspeth (1926–1927)
E. C. Crampton (1927–1928)
Carl Gilbert (1928–1929)
L. O. Fullen (1929–1930)
Thomas E. Mears (1930–1931)
M. C. Mechem (1931–1932)
Edwin L. Holt (1933–1934)
James A. Hall (1934–1935)
Alvan N. White (1936–1937)
Charles H. Fowler (1937–1938)
Henry A. Kiker (1938–1939)
Edwin L. Mechem (1939–1940)
George L. Reese Sr. (1940–1941)
Everett M. Grantham (1941–1942)
A. K. Montgomery (1942–1943)
A. W. Marshall (1943–1944)
Waldo Spiess (1944–1945)
E. C. Iden (1946–1947)
C. C. McCulloh (1947–1948)
E. Forrest Sanders (1948–1949)
Otto Smith (1949–1950)
Floyd W. Beutler (1950–1951)
Hon. George L. Reese Jr. (1951–1952)
Robert W. Botts (1952–1953)
Jess D. Weir (1953–1954)
Howard F. Houk (1954–1955)
M. E. Noble (1955–1956)
Richard F. Rowley (1956–1957)
Stephen W. Bowen (1957–1958)
William A. Sloan (1958–1959)
Benjamin M. Sherman (1959–1960)
Rory L. Rank
Stephen M. Rappoport
D. Peter Rask
Betty Read
Douglas Barry Stone
Steven S. Suttle
Alan R. Taradash
James E. Thomson
Rex D. Throckmorton
Richard B. Walker
B. C. Weiner
Megan J. Wells
John Wentworth
James T. Jennings (1960–1961)
R. C. Garland (1961–1962)
Jess R. Nelson (1962–1963)
Donald B. Moses (1963–1964)
Robert S. Skinner (1964–1965)
Wesley M. Quinn (1965–1966)
U. M. Rose (1966–1967)
Robert M. Rowley (1967–1968)
John Joe Wilkinson (1968–1969)
James Sidwell (1969–1970)
Hon. William R. Federici (1970–1971)
M. Rosenberg (1971–1972)
Thomas E. Ahern Jr. (1972–1973)
Russell D. Mann (1973–1974)
George T. Harris Jr. (1974–1975)
James R. Crouch (1975–1976)
Wayne C. Wolf (1976–1977)
James L. Dow (1977–1978)
William C. Erwin (1978–1979)
William K. Stratvert (1979–1980)
John R. Cooney (1980–1981)
John F. McCarthy Jr. (1981–1982)
Charles I. Wellborn (1982–1983)
Robert P. Tinnin Jr. (1983–1984)
Robert N. Hilgendorf (1984–1985)
Richard F. Rowley II (1985–1986)
James P. Saunders Jr. (1986–1987)
C. Emery Cuddy Jr. (1987–1988)
Charles A. Pharris (1988–1989)
James Jay Mason (1989–1990)
Amanda J. Ashford (1990–1991)
Neil E. Weinbrenner (1991–1992)
Hon. Alan C. Torgerson (1992–1993)
Arturo L. Jaramillo (1993–1994)
Gary Don Reagan (1994–1995)
Hon. Sarah M. Singleton (1995–1996)
Rex D. Throckmorton (1996–1997)
David H. Kelsey (1997–1998)
Richard L. Kraft (1998–1999)
Stephen E. Doerr (1999–2000) 2000s
David N. Hernandez (2001)
Mary T. Torres (2002)
Colin C. Alcott (2003)
Daniel J. O’Brien (2004)
Charles J. Vigil (2005)
Virginia R. Dugan (2006)
Dennis E. Jontz (2007)
Craig A. Orraj (2008)
Henry A. Alaniz (2009)
Stephen S. Shanor (2010)
Jessica A. Pérez (2011)
Hans William Voss (2012)
Andrew J. (Drew) Cloutier (2013)
Erika E. Anderson (2014)
Mary Martha Chicoski (2015)
J. Brent Moore (2016)
Scotty A. Holloman (2017)
Wesley O. Pool (2018)
Gerald G. Dixon (2019)
Ernestina R. Cruz (2020)
Carla C. Martinez (2021)
Carolyn A. Wolf (2022)
Benjamin I. Sherman (2023)
Denise Torres Albuquerque Hon. Wendy York Albuquerque
Bruce McDonald Albuquerque
Andrew Lehrman Santa Fe
John Hughes Red River
Hon. William Lynch Albuquerque
Dirk Murchison Taos
Raynard Struck Albuquerque Hon. Jeff McElroy Santa Fe
Hon. Tim Garcia Santa Fe
Mark Jarmie Albuquerque
Hon. Alan Malott Albuquerque
Hon. Nan Nash Albuquerque
