Professionalism Tip

With respect to the public and to other persons involved in the legal system: I will strive to set a high standard of professional conduct for others to follow.

2023. Chief Judge Conrad F. Perea will begin serving as the new chief judge from April 2023 to May 2025 and is hopeful in continuing to add positive development to the Third Judicial District Court and the judiciary as a whole.

Notice of Case Reassignments

Third Judicial District Court Chief Judge Conrad F. Perea provides notice of the following case reassignments. All PQ cases currently assigned to Judge Richard Jacquez (RJ0) shall be reassigned to Judge Manuel Arrieta (MA0). All SI cases (lower court transfers) assigned to Judge James T. Martin (JM8) shall be reassigned to Judge Manuel Arrieta (MA0). All CV cases currently assigned to Judge Douglas Driggers (DD1) shall be reassigned to Judge Casey Fitch (CF2). All CV cases currently assigned to Judge Conrad Perea (CP1) shall be reassigned to Judge Casey Fitch (CF2). All DM cases currently assigned to Judge Grace Duran (GD1) shall be reassigned to Judge Robert Lara (RL2) @ 50% and to Judge Mark Standridge (MS9) @ 50%. Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 1.088.1, parties who have not yet exercised a peremptory excusal will have 10 days from April 26 to excuse said Judges.

Twelfth Judicial District Court Notice of Proposed Changes to Rules

The New Mexico Supreme Court’s Equity and Justice Commission’s Subcommittee on Judicial Nominations has proposed changes to the Rules Governing New Mexico Judicial Nominating Commissions. These proposed changes will be discussed and voted on during the upcoming meeting of the Twelfth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission. The Commission meeting is open to the public beginning at 9:30 a.m. (MT) on Friday, May 26, 2023, at the Otero County District Court located at 1000 New York Avenue, Alamogordo, N.M. Please email Beverly Akin (akin@law.unm.edu) if you would like to request a copy of the proposed changes.

Twelfth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission

Announcement of Vacancy

A vacancy on the Twelfth Judicial District Court in Alamogordo, N.M. will exist as of May 14, 2023 due to the retirement of the Honorable Judge Steven E. Blankinship, effective May 13. Inquiries regarding the details or assignment of this judicial vacancy should be directed to the Administrator of the Court. Applicants seeking information regarding election or retention if appointed should contact the Bureau of Elections in the Office of the Secretary of State. Camille Carey, Chair of the Twelfth Judicial Nominating Commission, solicits applications for this position from lawyers who meet the statutory qualifications in Article VI, Section 8 of the New Mexico Constitution. Applications may be obtained from the Judicial Selection website: https://lawschool.unm. edu/judsel/application.html, or emailed to you by contacting the Judicial Selection Office at akin@law.unm.edu. The deadline for applications has been set for May 5 by 5 p.m. (MT). Applications received after that date and time will not be considered. The Twelfth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission will convene on May 26, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (MT) to interview applicants for the position at the Otero County District Court located at 1000 New York Avenue, Alamogordo, N.M. The Commission meeting is open to the public, and members of the public who wish to be heard about any of the candidates will have an opportunity to be heard.

state Bar News Annual Awards Open for Nominations

Nominations are being accepted for the 2023 State Bar of New Mexico Annual Awards to recognize those who have distinguished themselves or who have made exemplary contributions to the State Bar or legal profession in the past year. The awards will be presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting on Thursday, July 27 at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. The deadline is June 1. View previous recipients, instructions for submitting nominations, and descriptions of each award at www.sbnm.org/CLE-Events/State-Bar-ofNew-Mexico-Annual-Awards.

Board of Bar Commissioners Appointment to DNA - People's Legal Services, Inc. Board

The Board of Bar Commissioners will make one appointment to the DNAPeople’s Legal Services, Inc., Board for a four-year term. Attorneys licensed in New Mexico who wish to serve on the board should send a letter of interest and brief resume by May 1 to bbc@sbnm.org.

Appointment of Young Lawyer Delegate to American Bar Association House of Delegates

Pursuant to the American Bar Association Constitution and Bylaws (Rules of the Procedure House of Delegates) Article 6, Section 6.4, the Board of Bar Commissioners will make one appointment of a young lawyer delegate to the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates for a two-year term, which will expire at the conclusion of the 2025 ABA Annual Meeting. Members wishing to serve as the young lawyer delegate to the ABA HOD must have been admitted to his or her first bar within the last five years or be less than 36 years old at the beginning of the term; they must also be a licensed New Mexico attorney and a current ABA member in good standing throughout the tenure as a delegate and be willing to attend meetings or otherwise complete his/her term and responsibilities without reimbursement or compensation from the State Bar; however, the ABA provides reimbursement for expenses to attend the ABA mid-year meeting. Qualified candidates should send a letter of interest and brief resume by May 31 to bbc@sbnm.org.

Equity in Justice Program Have Questions?

Do you have specific questions about equity and inclusion in your workplace or in general? Send in questions to Equity in Justice Program Manager Dr. Amanda Parker. Each month, Dr. Parker will choose one or two questions to answer for the Bar Bulletin. Go to www. sbnm.org/eij, click on the Ask Amanda link and submit your question. No question is too big or too small.

Fee Arbitration Program Be a Volunteer Arbitrator

The State Bar of New Mexico Fee Arbitration Program is an out-of-court method to resolve fee disputes that is expeditious, confidential, inexpensive and impartial. Attorneys who volunteer to be arbitrators review case materials, hold fee arbitration hearings and issue awards that are final and binding. The arbitrating attorney may decline a case for any reason. For more information, visit https://www.sbnm.org/For-Public/ Client-Protection-and-Fee-Arbitration/FeeArbitration/Volunteer-to-Be-an-Arbitratorin-the-Fee-Arbitration-Program.

Historical Committee

Tour of the Glorieta Battlefield

Join the Historical Committee of the State Bar on April 29 for a tour of the Glorieta Civil War Battlefield. The tour will begin at 9 a.m. and end between 3 and 4 p.m. (MT). The tour is limited to the first 30 persons to register. Registration will close on April 22 or when 30 people have registered. Register by emailing memberservices@sbnm.org. The tour leader is Henry M. Rivera who has led this tour many times; has led tours of many other Civil War Battlefields; is a member of the Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbia and has previously addressed the Historical Committee on Civil War subjects. Tour details, maps and other material will be provided to registrants closer to the event date.

Legal Specialization Commission Notice of Commissioner Vacancy

The State Bar of New Mexico is accepting applications for one available commissioner seat on the Legal Specialization Commission. Applicants must be lawyers who have passed the bar examination, are licensed and in good standing to practice law in New Mexico and have practiced law for a minimum of seven years. To apply, please send a letter of intent and resume to kate.kennedy@sbnm.org.

New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program

Monday Night Attorney Support Group

The Monday Night Attorney Support Group meets at 5:30 p.m. (MT) on Mondays by Zoom. This group will be www.sbnm.org