In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Plato describes a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall from objects passing in front of a fire behind them, these shadows are the prisoners’ reality. One day the prisoners manage to break out of their shackles and discover the true reality around them. Before my externship  at the Second Judicial District Court (SJDC), my view of the law and the legal profession was like that of the prisoners, merely shadows of the true reality. Throughout my externship at the SJDC, I became “unshackled” and my understanding of what the law truly was began to take form. 

Whether it was discussing the “political thicket” in Baker v. Carr with the Court Executive Officer, analyzing bills in the current legislative session for the Court’s General Counsel, or witnessing closing arguments in high-profile cases, my experience at the SJDC was invaluable. Although in the classroom students are taught the law and provided examples on how it would apply, nothing compares to being fully immersed in one of the busiest district courts in the state. From employment law to the rules of evidence, I was able to see real world (insert cave pun here) application of previously bewildering legal concepts. Additionally, this judicial externship provided me with a complete rotation of the various divisions of the Court (Family, Civil, Criminal, and Children’s Court), an experience I believe every law student should have. I was given an opportunity to expand my love for constitutional and employment law, while also discovering a new love for criminal and family law. 

Although I gained a plethora of knowledge on the law in the various divisions, I believe the greatest gift this externship gave me was the knowledge of the legal profession and how to treat others in the legal community. The way the SJDC not only treats its staff, but the public at large, is nothing short of extraordinary. Everyone at the Court has the best interests of the community at heart, providing a perfect reminder of why I decided to pursue my dream of becoming an attorney in the first place, to help others. With this new outlook on life and the law, I am now prepared to explore this amazing new world!

Richard Azar served his judicial externship in the Second Judicial District Court during the Spring Semester of 2019. He will start his third year of UNM Law School in the fall. 

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A delegation from Afghanistan—including a prosecutor and a police officer—visited the Second Judicial District Court in April as part of a trip to learn how U.S. courts handle domestic violence cases.

The group—which also visited courts in Baltimore, Cincinnati and Detroit—hopes to find best practices that they can apply  in Afghanistan’s judicial system. Global Ties ABQ, a non-profit organization the works to foster ongoing relationships between Albuquerque residents and international visitors, sponsored the Albuquerque trip. 

At the Second Judicial District Court, the Afghan delegation observed a domestic violence hearing and then shared their impressions with the hearing officer, Rosemary Traub, and Family Court Presiding Judge Debra Ramirez over lunch.

Interpreters facilitated the conversation. The prosecutor, Abdul Haq Anabia, said having a judge or hearing officer render a decision in a domestic violence case is a stark contrast from the process in Afghanistan, where all domestic violence such cases are resolved through mediation. 

Judge Ramirez said culture plays a role in the different manners in which courts handle domestic violence cases in the U.S. versus Afghanistan.

“In Afghanistan, the focus is always on reuniting the family,” Judge Ramirez said. “In the U.S., even though we like to see families work out their differences and remain together, there are times when we consider it appropriate to draw a line and say reunification is not possible—and that line is when violence is occurring.”

Despite the differing approaches, both the Afghanis and their American counterparts agreed their overriding goal is to decrease incidents of domestic violence.  Haq Anabia said the mediation process in Afghanistan offers families support to help curb violence.

“Overall, we are trying to decrease violence against women in Afghanistan,” said Gita Qaderi, a female police officer in Kabul.

Qaderi also expressed appreciation for the number of programs in the U.S. that promote awareness of domestic violence and offer services and resources for survivors. “We need to have more programs that build awareness,” she said. “I am hoping to go back and focus on such programs.” 

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Self-represented parties working through family law issues such as divorce, child custody and timesharing have a chance to settle their cases free of charge at the Second Judicial District Court’s Peter H. Johnstone Pro Se/Pro Bono Mediation Day.

On Friday, April 12, 2019, roughly 65 to 70 family law attorneys will be at the Second District Courthouse serving as volunteer mediators for parties who want to resolve their differences through negotiation rather than litigation.

The Second District Court has been hosting the Pro Bono Family Law Mediation Day for several years. Peter H. Johnstone, a family law attorney in Albuquerque, was one of the early organizers, and the event was named in his honor following his death in 2013.

Meredith Johnstone, Peter’s daughter who also is a family law attorney, said this day represents two of her father’s firm beliefs:

“My dad was very much a supporter of Pro Bono services, and as I worked with and learned from him, he made sure that I supported those types of services as well,” Meredith Johnstone said. “He also believed that having attorneys work in collegial fashion actually improved the level of service they provided to clients. That is why I love this day so much. It brings the family law community together around those two ideas.”

On average, 80% of the parties who participate in Peter Johnstone Day reach a full settlement of their cases by the end of the mediation session. Typically, an additional 10% to 15% reach at least a partial settlement.

“It’s always better—especially when children are involved—for parents to resolve issues on their own terms, rather than have solutions forced on them by the court,” said Judge Debra Ramirez, Presiding Judge of Family Court. “We are fortunate to have attorneys in our community who are willing to help people who can’t afford legal representation find creative ways to resolve their cases.”

There two requirements for parties wishing to participate in a Peter H. Johnstone Pro Se/Pro Bono Mediation event:

        • Neither party can be represented by an attorney.
        • Cases must be referred by the Family Court.

Parties can be referred to the event by submitting a request to the judge presiding over a current case, or by making the request when opening a new case. The court’s Center for Self Help and Dispute Resolution can provide information for how to submit those requests for future Peter Johnstone Day events.

The Center for Self Help and Dispute Resolution is located on the first floor of the Second Judicial District Courthouse at 400 Lomas Blvd., NW, in Albuquerque. The center is open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday.

The Center for Self Help and Dispute Resolution can be reached by telephone at 505-841-6702.

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Assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) is a civil court ordered program of delivering community-based treatment to adults with serious mental illness who are found by a judge, in consideration of prior incarcerations or hospitalizations, to be unlikely to adhere to prescribed treatment on a voluntary basis. It is a 2-way commitment that requires treatment providers to serve individuals at the same time it commits individuals to adhere to their treatment plans. Through the ritual of court hearings and the symbolic weight of a judge's order, AOT seeks to leverage a "black robe effect," motivating the individual to regard treatment adherence as a legal obligation.

Funded by a four-year grant with the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the City of Albuquerque’s AOT Program will serve a maximum of 60 individuals in the first year. Referrals for this program will primarily be from inpatient hospital facilities (Petitioner), such as the University of New Mexico’s Psychiatric Center and Kaseman Hospital. This program provides psychiatric and intensive comprehensive case management services, as well as monthly sessions with a judge to individuals with serious mental illness (Respondents) ordered for treatment by the Second Judicial District Court. The AOT case manager monitors the participant’s progress and compliance with the treatment plan in accordance with the court order. The AOT case manager reports to the court on the client’s condition and attends all court staffings and hearings.

The City of Albuquerque (City), through the Department of Family and Community Services, invites attorneys to submit letters of interest/proposals in accordance with specifications found at http://www.cabq.gov/family/news/seeking-contract-attorneys-to-support-assisted-outpatient-treatment to establish a pool of qualified attorneys available to provide cost-effective, competent representation in the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program in the Second Judicial District consisting of Bernalillo County. The City is seeking attorneys to provide legal representation of Petitioners and Respondents as independent contractors. The City will select a pool of attorneys whose proposals indicate that they meet all of the minimum qualifications and requirements contained within the Request. All services will be performed in conjunction and in association with the AOT Program. Cases will be assigned to Respondent’s counsel following the filing of a petition in the Second Judicial District Court, for those clients requesting representation. Offerers must be in good standing to practice law by the New Mexico Supreme Court, and an active member of the Bar. Proposals submitted pursuant to this Request will be accepted by the City on an ongoing basis until further notice in order to maintain a current listing of pre-qualified attorneys available to perform services for the AOT Program. The City will endeavor to review each proposal and respond to the Offeror within thirty (30) days of receipt of the proposal. A proposer who meets all of the City’s minimum qualification and requirements will be added to the pool of attorneys available for the assignment of work. Please contact Ellen Braden, Division Manager, Behavioral Health and Wellness with questions at (505) 768-2788 or ebraden@cabq.gov.

One of the most recognizable faces at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Justice Center belongs to Cassie, a 6-year-old Labrador retriever.

Cassie interacts with families, especially those with children, who need her friendship. When a girl is called to testify about traumatic abuse or neglect, Cassie might sit at her feet to provide solace. Or Cassie might stay with a sobbing boy who has just been separated from his parents after being placed into protective custody.

"Cassie provides great comfort in the courtroom and gets smiles from everyone she meets when she is in the building," Children’s Court Judge Marie Ward said.  "She is a silent companion who has a way of removing the edge from very difficult situations."

Cassie has been a presence at the Juvenile Justice Center since late 2013. She is a specially-trained Courthouse CASA dog, a name that is derived from the acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Cassie was purchased using a grant by New Mexico Kids Matter, the CASA program in Albuquerque. CASA believes that every child who has been abused, neglected or is in foster care deserves to have a dedicated volunteer advocate speaking up for them in court.

"We are very fortunate to have Cassie, both as a resource and as a friend," Judge Ward said.  "She brings a lift to everyone she meets and she is especially valuable to the children who need her most."

Cassie was trained by Assistance Dogs of the West, a Santa Fe-based accredited service dog organization that also provides service dogs for the Veterans Court program. Courthouse dogs have been used around the country since 2003.

For more information about CASA please visit www.nmkidsmatter.org.