Save the date for the 2017 New Mexico Appellate Practice Institute

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on June 19, 2017

This year’s entire day of appellate goodness and CLE credits will take place on Friday, September 15 at the State Bar Center in Albuquerque.

We are thrilled to have, as our keynote speaker, the Honorable James E. Graves, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Graves served as a justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court before President Obama appointed him to the Fifth Circuit.

The rest of the program will be released soon, and I’ll post again when registration opens. I hope to see you there!

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NMSC: Tort Claims Act waives sovereign immunity for loss of consortium claims

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on June 19, 2017

Today the New Mexico Supreme Court issued its decision in Thompson v. City of Albuquerque, holding that the Tort Claims Act waives the state government’s sovereign immunity for loss of consortium claims. The case was brought by the minor children of a man who was shot and killed by Albuquerque police.

Justice Chávez’s opinion for the unanimous court also holds that the children may assert their loss of consortium claim although their father’s estate did not file a wrongful death claim.

The Supreme Court’s decision affirms last year’s Court of Appeals decision in this case, which reached the same conclusion.

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Judge Jim Wechsler to retire from NM Court of Appeals

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on June 9, 2017

After more than 22 years of service on the New Mexico Court of Appeals, Judge Jim Wechsler has announced that he will be retiring on July 31, 2017, according to this story by Phaedra Haywood in the Santa Fe New Mexican. Ms. Haywood’s story says that Judge Wechsler’s tenure is the second-longest of any appellate judge in New Mexico history.

As one of the most respected and hard-working judges in the state, Judge Wechsler certainly deserves his retirement, but this is a real loss to the people of New Mexico. Judge Wechsler’s opinions are full of both legal erudition and common sense. Also, he is unassuming and respectful towards everyone he meets. I can attest to this as the recipient of kindness, encouragement, and advice from Judge Wechsler since meeting him while I was a lowly law student in the late 1990s.

His shoes will be hard — perhaps impossible — to fill.

 

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Nakamura sworn in as New Mexico’s Chief Justice

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on June 8, 2017
Chief Justice Judith Nakamura

Yesterday, the New Mexico Supreme Court’s newest member, Judith Nakamura, was sworn in as Chief Justice. She succeeds Justice Charles Daniels in that post.

The swearing-in ceremony took place yesterday at the New Mexico Judicial Conclave here in Albuquerque. You can read the details in this story by Katy Barnitz in the Albuquerque Journal.

Chief Justice Nakamura was a longtime judge on Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Court until Governor Martinez appointed her to the Supreme Court in 2015. She is a hot-air balloon pilot, and a cancer survivor.

Congratulations to the Chief!

Also, thanks and appreciation are in order for Charles Daniels’ work as chief justice. He has worked long and tirelessly to improve New Mexico’s judicial system.

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Have lunch with Judge Vargas of the NM Court of Appeals

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on June 1, 2017
Judge Julie Vargas

Tomorrow, Friday, June 2, the Appellate Practice Section of the New Mexico State Bar will host a brown-bag lunch with Judge Julie Vargas of the New Mexico Court of Appeals. This is an opportunity to learn more about the Court of Appeals, and ask any questions you may have.

The lunch begins at noon tomorrow, and will be held at the State Bar Center in Albuquerque.

If you’d like to attend, please RSVP with Zach Ives at [email protected].

 

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10th Cir. Chief Judge Tymkovich speaks on judicial independence at University of Chicago.

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on May 16, 2017

Recently, Tenth Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Tymkovich spoke at the University of Chicago Law School on “Judicial Independence From Jay to Roberts.”

Here is a report on his talk. Hat tip to How Appealing.

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Tenth Circuit Judge Paul Kelly to take senior status.

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on May 16, 2017

The U.S. Courts’ list of future judicial vacancies now indicates that Tenth Circuit Judge Paul Kelly will take senior status on a date yet to be announced.

Judge Kelly was appointed to the Tenth Circuit in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, and confirmed in April 1992.

Judge Kelly’s action will open a New Mexico seat on the Tenth Circuit for President Trump to fill. I have heard that U.S. District Judge James O. Browning may be interested in the appointment. I have not yet heard of any other possible candidates, so please let me know if you know who’s in the running!

And thanks to Judge Kelly for his long active service to our country!

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Electronic filing is now available at the New Mexico Supreme Court!

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on May 2, 2017

Today I received the following welcome announcement from Joey Moya, Clerk of the New Mexico Supreme Court:

As of today, electronic filing and service is​ ​available for use on a voluntary basis for all new and pending cases in the Supreme Court through the same File and Serve system used in state district courts throughout New Mexico.  Paper filings will continue to be accepted by the Supreme Court until July 1, 2017, at which time use of the electronic filing system for all proceedings in the Supreme Court will become mandatory.  ​To learn more about the Supreme Court’s new eFiling process and for information about training opportunities, please visit the Supreme Court’s website by clicking here. 

Thanks to all of those folks who have worked hard to make e-filing a reality. Let’s hope the New Mexico Court of Appeals is able to follow suit soon!

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Tenth Circuit upholds New Mexico’s challenge to DOI Indian gaming regulations

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on April 25, 2017

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires states to negotiate in good faith with Indian tribes who seek to establish a gaming compact with the state, and sets forth procedures for the negotiation process, including mediation.

Ultimately, if the parties are unable to agree, the Act provides that the Secretary of the Interior “shall prescribe, in consultation with the Indian tribe, procedures … consistent with the proposed compact selected by the mediator … under which Class III gaming may be conducted.” In response to this language, the Department of the Interior enacted regulations at 25 C.F.R. Part 291.

As part of the ongoing dispute between the State of New Mexico and the Pueblo of Pojoaque over tribal gambling, the State sued the Department of the Interior, arguing that the Part 291 regulations were beyond its authority. The District Court agreed with the State.

On Friday, the Tenth Circuit issued its opinion in State of New Mexico v. DOI, affirming the trial court. The opinion, by Judge Holmes, holds that the State had standing, the dispute is ripe and justiciable, and that the Part 291 regulations exceeded the Department’s statutory authority.

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10th Circuit denies rehearing in case involving student essay that criticized lesbianism

by Emil J. Kiehne Posted on April 25, 2017

I am reliably informed that the Tenth Circuit has denied the petition for rehearing en banc filed by a student who sued the University of New Mexico for First Amendment violations as a result of actions allegedly taken against her after she submitted an essay critical of lesbianism in one of her classes.

The Tenth Circuit issued its panel opinion in Pompeo v. Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico last month. I previously wrote about the case here and here.

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