SBNM Member Appreciation Week: Thursday

THROWBACK

Overview of Member Appreciation Week

Fiesta Friday

Join us for a FREE CLE presentation and social hour! The CLE presentation will by available in person and via webcast. The State Bar Center will host up to 150 in-person attendees. All are welcome to attend the post-presentation reception!

The Tech Never Stops • 2.0 EP

Why does Tik Tok matter to lawyers? Can deep fakes sink our clients? The legal issues with the latest trends in technology impact the world of legal ethics in ways that you might not have considered. In this program national speaker Stuart Teicher (“the CLE Performer”) talks about all of the latest dangers, including:

• Confidentiality and Rule 1.6

• Deception and Rule 8.4

• Supervision, Rules 5.1 and 5.3, and more

Stuart I. Teicher, Esq. is a professional legal educator who focuses on ethics law and writing instruction. A practicing attorney for over two decades, Stuart’s career is now dedicated to helping fellow attorneys survive the practice of law and thrive in the profession.

STUART TEICHER

Welcome to the 1967 State Bar Annual Meeting!

Throwback Thursday: Snapshots from Our History!

It’s the turn of a new decade and increasing access to justice at the 1990 State Bar Annual Convention!

Hop in your carriage to theSocorro County Courthouse! (1900-1910)

Cruise on down to theSandoval County Courthouse! (1927)

Equity in Justice

It’s been a little over a year since we hired our Equity in Justice Program Director, Dr. Amanda Parker. We wanted to check in with her to see how things are going.

Why did The State Bar create your position?

I joined the State Bar in August of 2021 to begin building a program in response to the findings in 2019 Report on the Status of Minorities in the Legal Profession and The Report on the Status of Women in the Legal Profession. These reports revealed that many bar members see inequity in their treatment and experience discrepancies in pay, promotion and work environment based upon race, gender, sexual identity, and disability. The final report articulates recommendations for improvement. My job is to build programs that address those recommendations and sustain changes in the profession.

What are the goals of the program?

Most of the goals of the program fall under education, retaining and supporting attorneys, building a diverse pipeline, and further research into the experiences of lawyers from underrepresented groups.

This past year, the Equity in Justice program has put on 10 CLEs that were open to the entire membership. These topics dealt with antiracism, intersectionality, LGBTQ issues, and disability rights. In addition, I have also begun to present for sections, divisions, the Commission on Equity and Justice, and private law firms.

It’s been an incredible experience to collaborate with community partners from the Black Lawyers Association, the Women’s Bar, the LGBTQ Bar, the Committee on Diversity, the Committee on Women, and the Commission on Equity and Justice to develop these educational programs. I am frequently humbled by the work done by lawyers in New Mexico. Many of these attorneys have been doing equity work for decades with little support or acknowledgment and they have welcomed me into it with such warmth and collegiality.

What else can look forward to from the Equity in Justice Program?

The main thing I am focused on right now is getting the word out that I can consult with and conduct trainings with individual law firms. There is a book club and a quarterly podcast that will start up soon, and I will begin to hold listening sessions that deal with experiences that our 2019 research report did not capture. I am also very excited to be on the Legal Well-Being In Action podcast in December. I encourage anyone to reach out if they have suggestions or would like to get involved.

To learn more about the Equity in Justice Program, visit www.sbnm.org/eij.

Jeffrey Actkinson

Henry Alaniz Jeffrey Albright Andres Almanzan Jennifer Anderson Seth Anderson Cynthia Aragon Steve Archibeque Daniel Baca Rafael Baca C. Bacon Adam Baker Janet Baker Jacques Balette Casey Barthel Glenn Beard Rachel Berenson Aimee Bevan James Bibb Amy Blumberg Tequila Brooks Leigh Brunner Ryan Burt Eric Burton Fernando Bustos Ismael Camacho

Thomas Campbell Cristy Carbon-Gaul Kathleen Carlow Joel Carson Carroll Carter

Dominique Cartron Randy Castellano Jennifer Catero Mark Chaiken Vanessa Chandler Enrique Chavez Eric Christensen Reed Colfax Cindy Cordova

Congratulations to the following attorneys who have achieved 25 years of practice! The anniversary of your significant length of service is a special occasion for the legal profession as it is a testimony of your dedication and loyalty to the legal community, your clients and the State Bar.

Cheryl Davis James Davis Lara Davis Troy Davis William DeRaad Nancy Desiderio Jocelyn Drennan Andrew Efaw Kristina Faught-Hollar Anthony Fernandez Katharine Fishman Linda Flores Nancy Franchini Patricia Galindo L. Galloway Yvette Gonzales Irma Gonzalez Joshua Grabel Victor Grafe William Grantham Joseph Gribble Carlos Gutierrez Justin Hall Elizabeth Han David Harris M. Hatcher Steve Hattenbach Michelle Hernandez Marianne Hill Linda Hollander

Richard Houston Trent Howell James Hume Mary Humphrey Todd Hurd Patricia Jones Roderick Juarez William Keeler Martha King Marcella King-Ben

Sarah Klahn

John Kloss Rachelle Klump

Karen Kool-Grending Cherie LaCour Christine Landavazo Mark Leachman Kevin Liles Carl Linder Jody Long Michelle Lopez Kristen Lowell Alan Maestas Emma Mamaluy John Mann

Judson Manning Andrea Mays John McCall Ketti McCormick Patrick McDaniel Michael McKleroy Ed Meintzer

Rachel Mendoza-Newton Cindy Mercer Christopher Mixon Rebecca Montano Theresa Montoya Linda Mott Megan Muirhead Blaine Mynatt Carol Neelley Dustin O'Brien Lisa Ortega Lawrence Otero Helen Padilla Keythan Park Bertrand Parnall Mickie Patterson Leta Powell Anna Powers

Linda Rios

Shelly Rivas Lisa Rivera Morrison Maria Sanchez-Gagne Richard Sandoval Christine Schwamberger Cynthia Sikelianos David Silva Matthew Sloan Gena Sluga Denise Soto Hall Neal Speer Charles Spence Richard Spinello David Stevens James Stevens Stephen Stewart Joshua Sutin Richard Sutten Scott Sweeney Anita Tellez Brian Thomas Michael Thomas Sherry Thompson S. Throneberry Hilary Tompkins Ronald Tucker Richard Valdez Gretchen Walther Alan Wang Robert Waterworth John Wertheim Paul Westbrook Kathleen Wilson Matthew Wilson Jill Winans John Wylie Jennifer Yoder William Zarr

Congratulations to the following attorneys who have achieved 50 years of practice! Those listed received their juris doctorates in 1972. In 1972, NASA launched its Space Shuttle Program, the Watergate Scandal was in its early stages, “The Godfather” was the most popular movie of the year and Intel invented the first single-chip microprocessor. Looking back at all that has happened allows us to appreciate your significant length of service as a special occasion for the legal profession. Your careers are a testimony of your dedication and loyalty to the legal community, your clients and the State Bar.

Jeffrey Romero Criminal Defense

Steven G. Farber Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury

Michael F. Anisa Real Estate Law

David R. Lee Personal Injury and Estate Planning

Gary R. Kilpatric Commercial Litigation

Joseph Caldwell General Practice

Honorable Bruce D. Black U.S. District Court of NM

Douglas Meiklejohn Environmental Law

Robert C. Trenchard, Jr. Personal Injury

Joan T. Ellis Not Pictured



50 YEARS OF PRACTICE MILESTONE

Current practice area (if still practicing)?

I have one case left to finish, and it is a probate matter for the family.

— Jeffery Romero

At this time, I am mainly researching selected wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, such as traumatic brain injuries, and also providing pro bono assistance and action against what I feel is Santa Fe governmental overreaching and its denying access to public records. — Steven G. Farber

Personal Injury and Estate Planning are my areas of practice, although I am semi-retired.

— David R. Lee

Real Estate Law. I am still actively practicing.

— Michael F. Ainsa

I am still licensed but not practicing except to consult with attorneys and staffing our firm.

— Gary R. Kilpatric

General practice with my son, Jacob.

— Hon. Joseph E. Caldwell

Personal injury trial law, primarily representing oilfield workers, their widows and orphans.

— Robert C. Trenchard, Jr.

I am currently engaged exclusively in arbitration and mediation and have been since I retired from the federal bench in Jan. 2017.

— Hon. Bruce D. Black

I am still working as an attorney although very little of my work involves representing clients. I am employed as a Water Quality and Land Restoration Advocate by Conservation Voters New Mexico, which is a statewide, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to connecting the people New Mexico to their political power to protect our air, land and water.

— Douglas Meiklejohn

I am still practicing (albeit remotely) I am an Attorney representing expert Staff witnesses testifying before the NM Public Regulation Commission in the regulation of utilities and conferring with Commission personnel regarding legislative and other relevant matters, at least to the extent that it is not prohibited by ex parte rules or statutes. I have been working for the NMPRC and its predecessor, the NM State Corporation Commission, for 34 years. After graduation from Law School, I was an associate with Sutin, Thayer & Browne, worked for the NM Legislative Council, became the first attorney for Energy & Minerals Department, was appointed by Governor Toney Anaya to be the Director of Administrative Services of the Natural Resources Department and Public Utility Commissioner and worked on an interim basis as an attorney-assistant to the chair of Senate Judiciary during the subsequent legislative session. For good or ill, I was often the first woman to hold those positions.

— Joan T. Ellis

The one guiding principal that I have followed through the years is to be honest: honest with the courts, with clients and with opposing counsel.

— Jeffery Romero

I follow the precept, “Justice, justice, shall you pursue.”

— Steven G. Farber

To do my very best for each client and on each matter and to do so fairly, honestly and cordially.

— Michael F. Ainsa

Honesty, fairness and the golden rule have been my guiding principles.

— David R. Lee

To be thoughtful, thorough and timely and finding reasonable compromise, if possible and to always obtain the best outcomes for our clients with honesty and efficiency.

— Gary R. Kilpatric

You are only as good as your next case.

— Hon. Joseph E. Caldwell

Justice is not always black or white but frequently gray with each side having some merit.

— Honorable Bruce D. Black

The guiding principle over my career has been that regardless of their political clout the residents of each community should have the right to determine what happens to their community’s environment.

— Douglas Meiklejohn

Represent your clients to the best of your ability. It is their case, not yours. Spend the time and money necessary to get them the best result possible.

— Robert C. Trenchard, Jr.

This answer takes some explaining. My going to law school and becoming a lawyer was kind of a fluke. My previous employment at the University of San Francisco Medical School as a laboratory and research assistant in teratology (1960 – 1967) ended when my husband John and I and our two children moved to Los Angeles in order to pursue his career in theatre & movies. He died in a swimming accident in 1968, and I returned to Albuquerque to live with my parents. During that year and until I started as a freshman in 1969, I took temporary assignments with Kelly Girl and eventually became the box office manager for the Albuquerque Little Theatre. I knew that I should pursue a further degree in order to support my 2 children, but I was quite sure it wasn’t in medicine (as a doctor or a PhD candidate); in the sixties, women were even less welcome in medicine than they were in the law. I had a dream one night about going to law school. Strangely enough, I knew no lawyers and had no idea how I would accomplish that or what lawyers did. Because my husband died suddenly and we were stereotypically “starving actors.“ I had no money prospects, except what I received from Social Security as a surviving widow. The next morning, I

What has been a guiding principle/motto over your career?

50 YEARS OF PRACTICE MILESTONE

50 YEARS OF PRACTICE MILESTONE

called the law school, spoke with a dear woman whose name I can no longer remember, who scheduled a meeting for me with Fred Hart, who was then dean of admissions. At that meeting, Dean Hart gave me a brochure about the LSAT and encouraged me to take the test that was to be given in a couple of weeks. I was probably still in shock, but I went ahead and took the exam anyway. It turned out that, between the results of the test and my graduating magna cum laude from college, I was projected to be near the top of that incoming freshman class. I was therefore given a grant to pursue my law school education. More of the details about my strange journey was published in an article in the Albuquerque Tribune in the summer of the year that I graduated (1972). Which brings me to my answer: Fred Hart and his family mentored me and my sons throughout my law school career and beyond. If it had not been for the kindness and support of the administration, the faculty and my fellow classmates, I would not be who I am and where I am today. During my law career, I have tried to pass the favor on by always showing a sense of responsibility and sensitivity through ethical and professional interactions with those I represent and those I challenge.

— Joan T. Ellis

If you were not an attorney, what would you have been?

If I were not an attorney, I would probably have been a physician.

— Jeffery Romero

I don’t know. I have always been a civil rights activist. Steven G. Farber

An Architect.

— Michael F. Ainsa

If I weren’t an attorney, I’d probably own a business.

— David R. Lee

I don’t really know. I had just returned from my tour of Vietnam as an artillery officer and then my wife, Mary and I joined four others to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil and lived on that 43-foot boat for another four months. When we returned home, I visited Hastings College with a friend of mine who was enrolled there. I went to a torts class with him given by the famous William Lloyd Prosser. That won me over to applying to Hastings, being accepted and then building my legal career. I don’t know what else I would have been.

— Gary R. Kilpatric

Pilot and/or musician or perhaps musician and/or pilot.

— Hon. Joseph E. Caldwell

After graduating from college, I applied to a master’s program and was planning to become a history professor. (This is why I probably enjoyed Indian law—because of the strong historical antecedents) My parents said they would pay for law school where they knew I could make a living but not for academia which they considered to be much more problematic. Turns out law wasn’t such a bad option.

— Hon. Bruce D. Black

50 YEARS OF PRACTICE MILESTONE

If I had not been an attorney, I probably would have been a community organizer.

— Douglas Meiklejohn

Musician. I started playing in a band when I was 16. Paid my way through college and law school as a musician after losing my scholarship when I dropped out my sophomore year. I own Catfood Records, an award-winning, money-losing small record company.

— Robert C. Trenchard, Jr.

I have always wanted to perform as an actress and a singer. Lack of exceptional talent and drive put the kabosh on that early on. However, during the last 50 years, I have been in several theatre productions, sung in several semiprofessional choirs, and worked as an extra in films.

— Joan T. Ellis

What is your proudest or most rewarding moment of practice?

The most rewarding moment of my practice was when I successfully argued a case with an INS administrative law judge to allow my client to remain in the U.S. The entire courtroom erupted into sounds of joy.

— Jeffery Romero

Arguing and winning a case in the United States Supreme Court, Wilson v. Garcia, and with co-counsel exonerating and freeing from a life imprisonment sentence a factually Arguing and winning a case in the United States Supreme Court, Wilson v. Garcia, and with co-counsel exonerating and freeing from a life imprisonment sentence a factually innocent African American man who was falsely convicted of first degree murder in Eddy County.

— Steven G. Farber

To have worked with so many good lawyers over the years.

— Michael F. Ainsa

My proudest moment was introducing my son, Christopher Lee, to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to be sworn in as a New Mexico attorney. I also felt pride when I won a six-week jury trial, when I settled a number of million-dollar cases and whenever I was able to help clients who were in dire need.

— David R. Lee

To receive two honors, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Business Lobbyist of the Year in 2006 and the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association 2008 Jason A. Kellahin Award of Outstanding Legislative Advocacy.

— Gary R. Kilpatric

As a private attorney, winning my very first criminal case; as a district attorney, winning my very first criminal case; as a district judge, completing three terms (18 years); and as an international consultant, the passage into law of the 2001 Bolivian Criminal Procedure Code (No matter how proud, some good laws don’t survive politics, as we are discovering here, too).

— Hon. Joseph E. Caldwell

50 YEARS OF PRACTICE MILESTONE

My proudest moments were: (a). my appointment to the New Mexico Court of Appeals by Governor King and (b). my appointment to the United States District Court by President Clinton through Senator Bingaman. While I often thought of my most recent court victories as my greatest achievements, I realize in retrospect they were but straws in the wind. I think my greatest achievements were the friendships I made with my staff and colleagues.

— Honorable Bruce D. Black

There have been several events in my practice that have been quite rewarding. All of these were achieved as team efforts with clients and allies. Two of the most important were: A. The 1991 closure of the medical waste incinerator that was polluting the community of Sunland Park; and B. The 2005 decision by the New Mexico Supreme Court (in a case that New Mexico Environmental Law Center Staff Attorney Roderick Ventura handled and in which I was a witness) ruling that the State Environment Department had to take into account testimony by residents of the community of Chapparal before making a decision about whether to grant a permit for a landfill in that community.

— Douglas Meiklejohn

Having clients keep in touch with me long after their case has been concluded.

— Robert C. Trenchard, Jr.

There is no particular moment in practice that I can point to. I am happy that I am still able to make a decent wage practicing law and, for the most part, find it intellectually stimulating and rewarding to represent the public interest as a government lawyer. Postscript: My two sons and four grandchildren are NOT interested in being lawyers. ‘NUF SAID!

— Joan T. Ellis

50-year practitioners to be recognized in name only:

Mr. Michael F. Ainsa

Hon. Bruce D. Black

Hon. Joseph E. Caldwell

Mr. Daniel Edwin Duncan

Ms. Joan T. Ellis

Mr. Steven G. Farber

Mr. Richard N. Feferman

Mr. Paul M. Fish

Mr. Albert Victor Gonzales

Hon. Harris L. Hartz

Mr. Calvin Hyer Jr.

Mr. John A. Jacobson

Mr. Gary R. Kilpatric

Mr. David R. Lee

Mr. Wilbert E. Maez

Mr. Daniel R. Marlowe

Mr. Douglas Meiklejohn

Hon. Pedro G. Rael

Mr. Jerrald J. Roehl

Mr. Jeffrey Romero

Mr. Michael G. Rosenberg

Mr. Robert K. Scholz

Mr. Thomas B. Stribling III

Ms. Arlene F. Strumor

Ms. Phyllis H. Subin

Mr. Robert C. Trenchard Jr.

Mr. Richard L. Virtue Jr.

Oral HistoryHIGHLIGHTS

State Bar of New Mexico Senior Lawyers Division

The State Bar Senior Lawyers Division Oral History Project is a public service endeavor intended to capture for the permanent historical record a picture of the practice of law in New Mexico through the eyes of those who lived it. Extensive interviews of senior lawyers and judges uncover personal insights often lacking in written documentary sources. Firsthand accounts of important events and experiences, supplemented with personal and anecdotal material for illustration, record each interviewee’s unique relationship and contribution to the subject.

Lawyers and judges to be interviewed are selected on the basis of their age and contributions to New Mexico’s legal history. Interviewees are encouraged to provide photographs and documents relevant to their histories, and interviews are videotaped in archival quality.

Recent Oral Histories include:

would like to be

Senior

have

Justice Richard Bosson

Professor William MacPherson & Professor Robert Desiderio

Daniel Behles