Second Judicial District Court
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Children’s Court Judges
The children’s court division has four (4) judges who handle juvenile cases including abuse and neglect of children, adoptions, and juvenile delinquency.
They preside at the Juvenile Justice Center, which is located at 5100 2nd Street NW.
Email: albddiv8proposedtxt@nmcourts.gov
Biography: Judge Catherine Begaye was appointed to the bench January 2021.
Email: albddiv1proposedtxt@nmcourts.gov
Biography: Judge Parnall was appointed to the Children’s Court Division of the Court in November of 2007 after a 30-year practice as a trial attorney in Criminal and Juvenile Defense and Personal Injury. He was appointed by the New Mexico Supreme Court as Co-Chair of the New Mexico Tribal/State Judicial Consortium and still serves on that committee. The purpose of the Consortium is to foster strong relationships between Tribal and State judges throughout New Mexico. Judge Parnall recently created a Family Reunification Drug Court in the Second Judicial District which provides extra support for families torn apart by drug and alcohol addiction. The goal of the program is to accomplish early reunification when in the best interest of children in order to avoid the trauma of separation from their families in prolonged foster placement.
Email: albddiv7proposedtxt@nmcourts.gov
Biography: Judge Alma Cristina Roberson was born in the border town of El Paso, Texas to immigrant parents from Mexico. She moved to Albuquerque in 2009 to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law. She graduated in 2012 and started soon after as an attorney in the Metro Division of the Law Offices of the Public Defender. In 2015, she moved to the Juvenile Division of LOPD where she found her true passion, working with children and their families.
As part of her advocacy, Judge Roberson served as a board member for Bernalillo County’s Reducing Racism and Ethnic Disparities Committee for two years. Currently, Judge Roberson serves on the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court National Project Advisory Board for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.