Students, justices, judges and appellate court law clerks at the New Mexico Supreme Court Building for the Pre-Law Summer Institute’s Judicial Clerkship Program. Courtesy/NMSC
NMSC News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) partnered with the Pre-Law Summer Institute’s Judicial Clerkship Committee (PLSI JCC) to bring 22 law students to New Mexico for workshops focused on increasing judicial clerkship opportunities for Native Americans. Each law student who attended is a citizen, shareholder, descendant, or member of a tribal nation.
“A just legal system should reflect and respect the diverse communities it serves,” said New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson. “We hope that our partnership in hosting the Judicial Clerkship Workshops welcomes more Native American law students and lawyers to the judiciary in clerkship positions, and perhaps eventually as future judges.”
Law students from across the country participated in the three-day event, taking part in resume and cover letter workshops; a presentation on becoming a judge in New Mexico; a networking lunch with the State Bar of New Mexico Indian Law Section; a panel of Native American judges from state, federal and tribal courts; a reception with keynote speaker and former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland; a law clerk panel at the Supreme Court Building; a lunch with the Justices and law clerks; a tour of the Supreme Court; a question and answer session with the Justices; and a workshop on Indian Law.
Many PLSI JCC members clerked for the New Mexico Supreme Court, including Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis of the Washington Supreme Court who clerked for the late Justice Pamela Minzner; Kateri Eisenberg, who clerked for Chief Justice Thomson, and who now serves as a rules attorney for the Court; and Alma Buena, who was a summer extern during law school.
The Committee helps students select courts and judges that match their career goals, interests, and skills. It offers tailored guidance for finding suitable judicial clerkships. Support from the Committee begins before law school, continues throughout, and extends into student’s careers.
The students who attended the workshops are Abrian Redwine, Ashley Hamilton, Chase Hobson Damon Clark, Dillon Turman, Geri Guisenberry, Jacquelynn Gutierrez, Jamison Deese, Joseph Sullivan, Karyn Bloxham, Laura Dorn, Manuel Lewis, Maranda Surginer, Michael Potter, Nicholas Kennedy, Samara Jackson Tobey, Sarah Montoya, Taressia Garcia, Tashina Emery, Taya Maxon, Vincent Sheoships, and William Vandergriff.
Chief Justice Thomson, Justices C. Shannon Bacon, Julie J. Vargas, and Briana H. Zamora; Second Judicial District Judge William Parnall, Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Sarah Wheelock, and U.S. District Sunshine Sykes of the Central District of California participated in attended Friday’s workshops at the courthouse.
Committee members and American Indian Law Center staff who attended the workshops include: Eisenberg, Josh Brynildsen, Savannah Lee, Rodina Cave-Parnell, Chon Hampson-Medina, Tim Devine, and Alexander Mallory.
“The Committee is committed to fostering outreach and meaningful mentorship opportunities,” said Lydia Locklear Canty, the Committee’s Chair. “The PLSI JCC has produced 39 judicial clerks nationwide in the last nine years, and through the partnership with the New Mexico Supreme Court for these latest workshops, I’m hopeful for 22 more.”
“The Committee is committed to fostering outreach and meaningful mentorship opportunities,” said Lydia Locklear Canty, the Committee’s Chair. “The PLSI JCC has produced 39 judicial clerks nationwide in the last nine years, and through the partnership with the New Mexico Supreme Court for these latest workshops, I’m hopeful for 22 more.”