Albuquerque, NM — August 3 to August 7, 2025
By Liz Garcia & Colette Bruggman
Chief Clerk of the New Mexico Supreme Court and Clerk/Executive Officer of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District
Please mark your calendars and start making plans to attend next summer’s annual conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 2025 conference will represent the first time ever that the NCACC has held its annual meeting in New Mexico.
The Program Committee is already developing ideas and identifying potential speakers for the educational sessions in Albuquerque. Upcoming editions of The Docket will provide more information on the educational program and on the planned social events, including the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the National Nuclear Museum. Here is the key information for your current planning.
The City of Albuquerque. Located in the Albuquerque Basin, the city is flanked by the Sandia Mountains to the east and the West Mesa to the west, with the Rio Grande and the bosque flowing north-to-south through the middle of the city. Albuquerque (population 561,000) is New Mexico’s largest and most vibrant city. It is the home of the University of New Mexico (UNM). Go Lobos!
Things to Do In and Near Albuquerque. Albuquerque has numerous activities for all ages and interests, including a vibrant arts and culture scene, zoos and nature centers, sports and recreation, such as hiking the Sandia Mountains, exploring bike trails and hot air adventures, and spas and wellness opportunities. New Mexico offers an incredible foodie experience and shopping; Old Town is a favorite. A sampling of other things to do includes:
- Visit Albuquerque’s distinctive neighborhoods reflecting the great diversity of our city; each of these areas has a unique personality and a variety of places to stay, things to do and delicacies to eat.
- Sandia Peak Tramway: For excellent views of Albuquerque and the nearby Sandia Mountains, take a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway, https://sandiapeak.com/.
- Albuquerque BioPark: The BioPark is a living environmental park that protects the natural world and connects communities with nature, consisting of the ABQ BioPark Aquarium, Botanic Garden, ABQ BioPark Zoo, and Tingley Beach. https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark.
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. This museum educates visitors on billions of years of natural history. https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/.
- Albuquerque Museum. For an in-depth look at Albuquerque’s rich cultural heritage, explore the Albuquerque Museum. https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum.
- Petroglyph National Monument: This 7239-acre park is home to more than 25,000 carved images left behind by Native Americans and Spanish settlers. https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm.
- Paseo del Bosque Trail. The Paseo del Bosque Trail goes from the north to the south edges of the metro area through the Rio Grande’s cottonwood bosque.https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/lands/paseo-del-bosque-trail.
- Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum. This museum chronicles high-flying achievements in ballooning. https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/balloonmuseum.
- Explora. Over 250 interactive exhibits and activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math for the whole family. https://www.explora.us/.
For additional food, recreation, and culture ideas, check out these websites:
Take for a virtual tour of Albuquerque.
The Host Hotel. The conference will be held at the Mariott Albuquerque, https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/abqnm-marriott-albuquerque/overview/. The hotel is in the Albuquerque uptown area, situated along I-40, and provides easy access to the University of New Mexico, Sandia Peak Tramway, Coronado Center, and other popular destinations. The uptown Albuquerque area is a modern shopping and business district, featuring everything from boutiques and local eateries to nationally recognized department stores and restaurants.
Getting to Albuquerque. The Albuquerque International Sunport (airport) is ten minutes away from the host hotel. There are many cities that have direct flights to Albuquerque, including throughout the U.S. (Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Charlotte, Austin, New York, Atlanta, San Diego and New York, etc.). For those who prefer to explore New Mexico on their way to the conference, consider visits to other cities/destinations, including Santa Fe, NM (approximately one hour away), Taos, NM (two and a half hours), White Sands National Park (a little over three hours), and Carlsbad Caverns (four and a half hours).
Special thanks to Kristen Edwards, Deputy Clerk of Court for the Supreme Court of New Mexico, for planning special events for the 52nd Annual Conference. If you have questions about logistics or activities at any point between now and August, please contact Liz at supeag@nmcourts.gov and Colette at Colette.bruggman@jud.ca.gov. We look forward to seeing you in Albuquerque. ¡Vamos a Albuquerque!