From the Dean


Welcome to the Winter 2006 issue of UNM LAW. These articles and photographs reflect a vibrant learning community that respects both its newest members and its most experienced graduates. At times it is tempting for me to conclude that “all is well.” A careful ear, however, will pick up a tendency in our community, which may be prevalent throughout our society, to- ward fixed viewpoints and intolerance for the views of others.


As you will see in an article on page 13, we are trying to ad- dress this phenomenon, in part, through a series of difficult dia- logues. In a community of learners who are intelligent and carry strong opinions, there is a need to define and practice the skills necessary for carrying out public dialogue about divisive issues.


Our goal is to conduct these dialogues in a professional and civil manner and in a way that furthers our understanding of opposing views in a meaningful way.


The aim of this pilot project called Legal Dialogues is to free up the voices of students who might avoid discussions because they feel that their points of view are unpopular (and, believe me, there are students from all points of view who express this hesitation to talk) and to teach those who are more than willing to talk to listen and seek out the opinions of others.


My hope is that this “talk about talking” will help create a more open learning environment at the school, taking better advantage of the political, social, ethnic, age and geographic diversity of our students. In addition, the ability to carry on professional and civil dialogue in an adversarial setting should strengthen our students’ lawyering skills, making them better problem solvers for their cli- ents. Finally, these skills might serve our graduates most in their roles as leaders of their respective communities, making them better equipped to struggle with our most difficult social and political issues.


If you have suggestions for the difficult dialogues series or are willing to share your own thoughts about opening up civil dialogue at the school and in the community, please feel free to write to me at scarnecchia@law.unm.edu.


Thanks, as always, for your continuing support of the school. Suellyn Scarnecchia


HIGHLIGHTS Class of 2008 Welcomed ................................................................... 4-6 Distinguished Achievement Awards .................................................. 8-9 Career and Student Services .............................................................. 10 Utton Center, Natural Resources News ......................................... 14-15 Paul Biderman Leads IPL .................................................................... 18 Class Notes .................................................................................... 26-27


On the cover: Harold Koh, dean of Yale Law School, visits with UNM law student Jennifer Mahoney after presenting the John Field Simms Memorial Lecture. See Spring issue of UNM LAW for more details.


2 UNMLAW WINTER 2006


UNMLAW


Dean Suellyn Scarnecchia


Editor Nancy Harbert


Layout and Design Don Mickey Designs


Board of Directors UNM School of Law Alumni/ae Association


President Sean Olivas ‘95


Arthur O. Beach `70 Bidtah Becker `00 John Blair `04 Brian Branch `87 Eleanor K. Bratton `85 Stuart R. Butzier `89 Joel M. Carson, III `97 Germaine Chappelle `99 Joseph Gant `68 Ken Gonzales `94 Marte Lightstone `86 Cindy Lovato-Farmer `93 David B. Martinez `82 Cerianne Mullins `95 Henry Narvaez `74 Jennifer Olson `96 Agnes Fuenteville Padilla `92 Fred Romero `81 Jennifer Rozzoni `01 Steve Scholl `89 Andy Schultz `84 Jennifer Stone `91 Robert Warburton `90 Stan Whitaker `89 Greg Williams `95 Sam Winder `88


Bradford H. Zeikus `66


UNM LAW is published three times a year by the School of Law in cooperation with the UNM School of Law Alumni/ ae Association. Subscriptions are free to alumni/ae and friends of the School of Law. Address changes should be sent to UNM LAW, MSC11- 6070, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001. Please include your mailing label.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28