Committee on Women and the Legal Profession

The State Bar of New Mexico’s Committee on Women and the Legal Profession (CWLP) is seeking nominations for the JUSTICE PAMELA B. MINZNER OUTSTANDING ADVOCACY FOR WOMEN AWARD. The CWLP awards this honor to New Mexico attorneys who have distinguished themselves during the prior year(s) by providing legal assistance to women who are underrepresented or underserved, or by advocating for causes that will ultimately benefit and/or further the rights of women. If you know of a New Mexico licensed attorney, of any gender, who embodies the spirit of Pamela B. Minzner Outstanding Advocacy for Women Award in the past year(s), please nominate this individual for this Award. Our 2020 Awardee is Elizabeth “Liz” Garcia based upon her leadership at the Second Judicial District Court through the global pandemic. She was instrumental in developing policies to allow court staff to care for their families while working remotely or in a flexible manner, ensuring the safety of those that came to the court, keeping the court doors open for those in need – especially victims of domestic violence, and mentoring law students – remotely, yet effectively – to whom she was a welcome beacon of stability and wisdom in the pandemic chaos. In 2023 due to a pandemic delay, the CWLP will award two recipients: one for work in 2021 and one for work in 2022. The award(s) will be presented at a Spring celebration in May 2023. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. MST on March 15, 2023. Nominations include a short description of the work and its impact on the rights of women; additional letters of support describing the person’s work and impact may be attached from multiple nominators. Additional letters should include: nominator name, contact info, years in practice, a description of their relationship with nominee, and a brief statement of how the nominee demonstrated service as an advocate for women and any examples to illustrate the nominee’s work.