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
With the calendar having turned from 2024 to 2025, temperatures may be dropping but planning for the 52nd annual conference in Albuquerque, NM is heating up. The Program Committee, chaired by Casey Forbes (WV), is putting together an exciting and informative agenda of educational sessions and speakers. As an exciting preview, the Program Committee has discussed an interdisciplinary panel, consisting of a federal judge, a New Mexico Supreme Court Justice and Justice of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court, with an emphasis on building relationships between courts. Tristen Worthen (WA) is organizing Vendor Day to keep us all abreast of available technology and other products that have the potential to make our courts run more smoothly.
In keeping with the schedule that worked so well in Burlington last summer, expect the core of the week to play out as follows:
Sunday — registration; family and new member orientation; business meeting (part I); educational program in the afternoon; evening reception; education fund auction; and Morgan Thomas slideshow.
Bring an item (the more items, the merrier) for the auction and bid aggressively, all for a good cause! The auction benefits the NCACC education fund. The word on the street is that there is Southwestern jewelry and delicious New Mexican food for auction. Hopeful to have additional surprise auction items from years past to new fun items to bid on.
Monday — full day of educational programming. We’ll cap off our day with a social event at the National Nuclear Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate and accredited through the American Alliance of Museums, which is an intriguing place to learn the story of the Atomic Age, from early research of nuclear development through today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Think science, food trucks and live music; the Museum is just a short ten-minute bus ride away from our hotel. Reactions welcome!
Tuesday — full day of educational programming and vendor sessions, followed by an evening social event at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is the Gateway to the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. We will be enjoying a rich cultural experience, dining on delicious New Mexican cuisine, complete with a Native American Flute Player, Storyteller, and a Fire Pit experience.
Wednesday — educational sessions in the morning. The afternoon is yours to catch up on emails, return phone calls, play in the Joe Lane Memorial Golf Tournament (several beautiful golf courses being vetted), or explore Albuquerque, Santa Fe and the surrounding area. Check out this website for food, recreation, and culture ideas: https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/about-abq/culture-heritage/.
Thursday — educational sessions in the morning; business meeting (part II); and awards luncheon.
The conference page on the website will be updated as these plans get more detailed.
In the meantime, if you have questions about logistics or activities, please contact Liz at supeag@nmcourts.gov, or Colette at Colette.Bruggman@jud.ca.gov. We look forward to seeing you in Albuquerque this year! #BestNCACCConferenceEver.