District Judge Ross Sanchez has this profile of retired Justice Patricio Serna in today’s Albuquerque Journal, which recounts his rise from rural poverty in Catron County to the height of New Mexico’s legal profession.
I would just like to echo what others have said about Justice Serna — he’s a thoroughly decent human being; his integrity and humility are examples to all of us; and his acts of personal kindness (which he never discusses) to those around him are legendary. (Full disclosure: My family’s roots are also in Catron County, and we’ve known and liked him for a long time!).
Tomorrow night, a retirement tribute will be held to honor Justice Serna’s service to New Mexico and to establish a scholarship in his name at the University of New Mexico Law School. The event will be held at the Hotel Albuquerque, with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. and a dinner from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. If you are interested in attending (and you should be), call the State Bar at 505-797-6034 to find out if any tickets are still available.
