Report on Training for New Municipal Judges
The Judicial Education Center recently completed an intensive orientation program for new municipal judges throughout New Mexico. The program included an introduction to the court system, DWI and traffic cases, evidence, sentencing, judicial ethics, arraignment and trial practice, and a tour of Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. The judges participated in a daily self-assessment and review of their learning. Several experienced mentor judges attended part of the program and received special training in serving as a resource for new judges.

The highlight of the program was a banquet with Chief Justice Edward Chavez, Justice Patricio Serna and Justice Charles Daniels of the New Mexico Supreme Court as guest speakers. Each spoke eloquently and humbly of the responsibilities of judicial service. Justice Serna provided seven guiding principles for the judges: be strong, kind and considerate; be patient; be committed to justice and equality; be grounded in common sense; be prompt and courteous; be dignified; and believe in yourself and other people.

JEC extends its gratitude to the program’s expert faculty members: Judith Olean, Paralegal Studies Program Chair, CNM; Randy Van Vleck, General Counsel, NMML; Rhonda Baldonado, Court Administrator, Alamogordo Municipal Court; Toni Kleitch, Court Administrator, Rio Rancho Municipal Court; Hon. Steven Lee, Alamogordo Municipal Court; Hon. Kaye Kiper, Artesia Municipal Court.

Educational Programs in 2008
For a schedule of the Judicial Education Center’s conferences and seminars in 2008, please see the online calendar.

NM Municipal Judge Earns Judicial Development Certificate
The Judicial Education Center congratulates Honorable Carlton Glen Jenkins, Eunice Municipal Court, for recently earning a Professional Certificate in Judicial Development in Special Court Trial Skills from the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. He is the only Municipal Judge in New Mexico to achieve this distinction. According to Judge Jenkins, this honor reflects not only on him personally, but “is a reflection of the Municipal Judges of New Mexico as a whole. We are a dedicated group of professionals and need some recognition; maybe in some small way this achievement will add to our integrity and status in the judiciary.” The NJC Special Court Trial Skills certificate program offers highly interactive courses and frequent interaction with expert faculty. The certificate requires three courses as well as 15 additional credits. Judge Jenkins received funding from the Municipal Judges Scholarship Committee and the Judicial Education Center to support these courses.