Admitted to the Bar in 1979,  I was a practicing trial lawyer- including certification by NBTA - for 30 years before joining the Civil division of the 2nd Judicial District Court in 2009.  As a member of this Court of general jurisdiction, I presided over some 1400 active civil cases at a time in matters ranging from administrative appeals to guardianships, to commercial litigation, employment disputes and personal injury litigation. Working an integrated docket, I determined all phases of assigned cases from early Motion practice to trial and post trial issues. I conducted dozens of Jury trials and hundreds of bench trials.  For several years, I handled all discovery and motion practice matters in dozens of cases brought against the Catholic church alleging sexual abuse by clergy members.  I was later appointed Mediator by the US Bankruptcy Court in the Church's bankrtuptcy case involving some 400 abuse claimants, and was instrumental in the parties' reaching the $121.5 Miliion final settlement.

 I was awarded “ Judge of the Year “ ( 2013 ) by the Albuquerque Bar Association and received consistently high performance ratings from the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission during my tenure with the Court.

Since leaving the Bench in November, 2018, I have provided  Alternative Dispute Resolution services throughout New Mexico, conducting  about a dozen  Mediation Conferences monthly in all subject areas with  an approximately 80 % success rate.  I am very gratified that my ADR practice has many repeat clientele from across the Bar.  References are available on request.  

• Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona
  • B.S. Crim. Justice conferred December 1975
• Loyola University School of Law Los Angeles, CA
  • July, 1977 – July, 1978
• University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM School of Law
  • J.D. conferred May, 1979

• AV Rated Martindale-Hubbell 1989 – Pres.
• Member- State Bar Task Force on Advertising 1989-90
• Member- NM Dept. of Labor Worker’s Compensation Admin.
• 1986-1989. Accomplished the transition from judicial to administrative determination of workers compensation claims.
• Member NM Trial Lawyers Assn. Bd Of Directors (1987–2009) and Secretary (2008)
• Member - State Bar of NM Fee Arbitration Committee (1988-2009)
• Instructor - Central NM Community College ( 1992 – 2006 )
• Certified Civil Trial Specialist – National Bd. Of Trial Advocacy 1992 – 2009
• General Counsel NM Chiropractic Assn. ( 1982-1990 )
• Member- NM Supreme Court Committee on Professional Responsibility (2003– 2005 )
• Member- NM Board of Chiropractic Examiners 2005-2009
• Frequent lecturer for State Bar of NM, NM Trial Lawyers Assn.
• Member 2nd Judicial District Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (2005 -2009 )
• Member - NM State Bar Bd. Of Bar Commissioners ( 2008-2009 )
• Featured weekly columnist – “ Judge For Yourself “ in the Albuquerque Journal ( 2009 – 2015 )

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