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Speakers: Verónica C. Gonzales, Lee & Leon Karelitz Professor in Evidence & Procedure, University of New Mexico School of Law & Jazmine Ruiz Johnston, Assistant Professor of Law, University of New Mexico School of Law
CLE Credit: 1.0 EIJ
The rule of law depends not only on recognized legal rights, but on who is recognized as credible, who is permitted to belong, and who receives a meaningful opportunity to be heard. This program features two related projects: Professor Gonzales’ work on professional identity, assimilation, and belonging in the legal profession, and Professor Ruiz Johnston’s work on the right to appeal and reducing barriers to appellate access. The presenters will examine how professionalism norms, credibility judgments, procedural barriers, and identity are impacting the rule of law.
Verónica C. Gonzales is the Lee & Leon Karelitz Professor in Evidence & Procedure and Professor of Law at the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she teaches Civil Procedure, Poverty Law in Practice, Legal Ethics and Appellate Decision-Making. Her scholarship focuses on technology, economic justice, professional identity and equity. She is the primary co-author of New Mexico Civil Litigation (2025, Lexis) and the author of Winging It: Convergence, Convivencia, and Belonging of Latina Lawyers, 94 Fordham Law Review 1357 (2026). She has litigation experience in tribal, state and federal courts and regularly works on issues involving professional responsibility, due process and appellate practice.
Jazmine Ruiz Johnston is an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of New Mexico School of Law where she teaches legal writing and analysis. Her scholarly work focuses on appellate access and equity, civil and administrative appeals and complex legal questions. Prior to teaching, she clerked for the New Mexico Supreme Court and was in private practice for nearly a decade specializing in appellate law. She was recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers-Rising Stars for her appellate advocacy. Jazmine serves as an appointed member of the New Mexico Supreme Court's Appellate Rules Committee and is a Director on the State Bar of New Mexico's Appellate Practice Section Board.