Friday, September 29 – Inaugural Amicus Lunch Hour

>>> Time: 12:00 to 1:00 pm
>>> Format: Live via Zoom
>>> CLE Credits: 1 General

>>> Program content: NMCDLA Amicus Committee Chair Jamison Barkley will host a one-hour CLE that covers the rules, procedures, and review of the types of issues/cases that NMCDLA contributes in NM Courts. This interactive and engaging event will be held in a Zoom meeting to allow for participant questions and conversation.

>>> Special note: This is a free NMCDLA members-only event and you must be a member to participate.

>>> To register: enter your name, New Mexico Bar #, email, and hit submit.

Friday, October 13 – All the World is a Stage: Persuading Clients, Juries and Judges

>>> Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, a social event to immediately follow at a local establishment
>>> Location: Holiday Inn Express Las Cruces North (2142 Telshor Ct. Las Cruces, NM 88011)
>>> Format: In-person and live via Zoom
>>> CLE Credits: 6 General

>>> Program Schedule:
9:00 – 10:00 am
Campfires and the Dark Night – Recapturing the Art of Storytelling
Presented by Dennis Candelaria, Assistant Federal Public Defender – Trial Units, and Ivy Palu, Mitigation Specialist/Social Worker, Office of the Federal Public Defender

10:15 – 11:15 am  
Don’t Get Lost in Translation – Working with Interpreters to Build a Connection with your Client
Presented by Rafael Carrillo, Staff Interpreter, Office of the Federal Public Defender

11:20 – 12:20 pm  
Lawyering is Violence, Don’t let it get Bloody; Using your words to comfort and not cut When Working with Difficult Clients
Presented by Amanda Skinner, Assistant Federal Public Defender – Appellate Units, Office of the Federal Public Defender

1:20 – 2:20 pm       
Science and the Law: A Match Made in Heaven… or Hell?
Presented by Dr. Noah K. Kaufman, Center for Neuropsychological Studies

Too frequently it is not clear what science is. And yet scientific methods are valued by factfinders (i.e., judges and juries), who are trying to improve their decision-making, in order to facilitate just legal  outcomes. Accordingly, it is important for forensic mental health professionals and legal professionals to think through salient definitions of science, as a way of avoiding blanket statements about the so-called  “science” and what it is saying. It is also valuable to distinguish between science and pseudoscience, which is easier when one considers pseudoscientific red flags. It is equally important for forensic mental  health professionals and legal professionals to consider the main sources of law—viz., constitutions, statutes, and legal cases—and the conceptual overlap that exists between “science” and “the law.” This is the focus of   Dr. Kaufman’s presentation, which is based on a chapter from his 2022 book, “Forensic Mental Health Assessment in Criminal Contexts: Key Concepts and Cases.”

Dr. Kaufman is a board-certified neuropsychologist and board-certified forensic psychologist who practices at The Center for Neuropsychological Studies in Las Cruces, NM. He has been practicing since 2003.

2:30 – 4:30 pm       
The Art of Effective Persuasion Using Voice and Body
Presented by Harry Zimmerman, The Acting Attorney
Harry invites you to explore how to improve your use of voice and body and more effectively communicate your message.  He will touch on techniques to elevate your persuasion skills.  History, mechanics, and practical tips for making the best use of your instrument in the stress of the moment at trial and in daily life.  There will be improv games that build confidence, help you think on your feet, and enhance the ability to tell the story of your case. Fun, fun, fun.

Friday, December 8 – Sentencing and Appeals

>>> Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, followed by an irreverent white elephant gift exchange at a local establishment
>>> Location: Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors (1635 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102)
>>> Format: In-person and live via Zoom
>>> CLE Credits: 6 General