New Mexico Judicial Wellness Program

Testimonials From Your Colleagues

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  Judge autonomy and independence are essential to ensure an impartial judicial process. At the same time, when coupled with the responsibilities of and increasing pressures on judges caused by heavy caseloads and detailed computer data tracking, autonomy and independence can quickly turn into isolation and anxiety. JWELL's coaching and support programs offer judges helpful and healthy connections to keep fast-paced dockets from becoming overwhelming and JWELL offers positive approaches to manage stress when demands become daunting.

  JWELL Testimonal

  Anonymous

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  The challenges of serving as a judge are unique to the legal profession, and every judge needs support to ensure they are able to perform their duties effectively. JWELL has been a vital resource for me to understand how to address the demands of my role, balance my physical and mental health, and develop effective strategies to serve the people of New Mexico. JWELL's work will continue to improve our judicial officer's ability to serve our communities, and I encourage the legal community to support JWELL's efforts.

  JWELL Testimonial

  Anonymous

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  Stress, anxiety, depression, and poor coping skills and habits; these are the everyday struggles of those in the legal profession, including the Judiciary, in New Mexico. JWELL provides tools to address these challenges head on. And in doing so, JWELL has fostered hope for a healthier life for many!

  JWELL Testimonial

  Anonymous

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  The JWELL Judges Tell Their Stories of Recovery podcast is inspiring for anyone who is overcoming an issue that causes them to feel alone or too embarrassed to ask for help. While specific to alcohol and drug abuse, I found the judges' insights to be applicable to a multitude of issues many people face surrounding shame or embarrassment regarding personal problems. And to see three judges who have overcome their shame around addiction and being willing to share their path to recovery lets others know they can do so as well. Knowing you are not alone is the first step.

  JWELL Testimonial

  Anonymous

Mission Statement

New Mexico Judicial Wellness Program promotes and optimizes health and wellness among New Mexico Judges by creating and facilitating educational programs and offering resources and services which provide a supportive environment for our judiciary in order to restore and maintain ones overall mental, physical, and spiritual health.

In recognizing the challenges in these unprecedented times and taking into account the results of the 2019 National Judicial Survey (see page 10), the State Bar of New Mexico Well-Being Committee created a Judicial Well-Being Sub-Committee in August, 2020. The Judicial Well-Being Sub-Committee immediately focused on bringing some much needed hope, support, encouragement and education to the NM Judicial Community by creating JWell Now.

JWell Now is the proactive part of an overall Judicial Wellness Program that focuses on and brings attention to the importance of judicial self-care through education in various formats and vehicles of proliferation, support groups, outreach, and available resources and services. The reactive part of this overall Judicial Wellness Program is termed JCall Now, which will focus on providing a much needed safe and confidential resource for judges to connect with when they find themselves struggling and want or need help.

In establishing a Judicial Wellness Program, the JW Sub-Committee proposed a roll-out of the identified goals and initiatives in three phases to aid in focusing on the short term and long term needs of the NM Judicial Community. 

Podcast Episode: The Other Side of the Bench: The Importance of Resilience from a Judicial Perspective

Listen to this free podcast episode featuring your own colleagues, including Justice Barbara Vigil (ret.), discussing resiliency on the bench. 

NM Judicial Wellness Program Gets a National Mention:

Judge Paves Way for Others With Mental Health Disclosure

Mentor Coaching for New Mexico Judges Survey Preliminary Findings

• The survey had a total response rate of 46%, with 145 total participants. Probate judges are the group that responded with the highest response rate, followed by Metro.
• The largest share of respondents was judges on the bench for 3-8 years (40%), followed by judges on the bench for 0-2 years (23%).
• The majority of survey participants (96%) believe that a Mentor Coaching Program would be useful. All six judges that did not agree that the program would be useful were judges 3-8 years into their judicial career.
• Although almost all respondents stated that the program would be useful at the beginning of their career, only 68% indicated that the program would be useful at the current point in their career. The majority (91%) of the judges with the 0-2 years on the bench stated the program would be useful.
• Isolation on the job was the challenge most often selected, followed by handling difficult personalities and managing stressors.
• Judges with 3-8 years on the bench reported the overall highest number of challenges were isolation followed by handling difficult personalities with staff, self-represented litigants, attorneys.

View the Full Survey

Judicial Well-Being Sub-Committee Members:

• Hon. Justice David Thomson
• Hon. Henry Alaniz (ret.)
• Hon. Sandra Engel (ret.)
• Hon. Judge Casey Fitch
• Hon. Benjamin Cross
• Torri Jacobus
• Mateo Page
• Pamela Moore
• Norm Gagne
• Scott Patterson
• Kate Dulit
• Faith Montoya