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The State Bar of New Mexico (“the State Bar”) is proud to announce the Swearing-In Ceremony of its next President, Aja N. Brooks, Esq., at the New Mexico Supreme Court on Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. Her swearing-in as the State Bar’s 139^th President marks a historic moment for the State Bar and the New Mexico legal community, as Brooks will be the first Black President of the State Bar of New Mexico, bringing her background and years of experience in the legal field to a principal role in the State Bar of New Mexico’s leadership.

“Aja Brooks will be an outstanding leader for the State Bar of New Mexico,” remarked Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins, current President of the State Bar of New Mexico. “Her dedication to the organization is matched by her passion for the important work of the State Bar. I look forward to watching her year and the success she will achieve. She is an inspiration to many and I am sure future Presidents will reference her year as a standard they hope to achieve.”

“Having worked with Aja for several years, including as a former President of the New Mexico State Bar Foundation, I’m excited to welcome her perspective, her energy and her voice as the next President of the State Bar of New Mexico,” said Richard B. Spinello, Executive Director of the State Bar of New Mexico.

During the State Bar of New Mexico's Officer Swearing-In Ceremony, Allison H. Block Chavez, Esq. will also be sworn in as the State Bar of New Mexico's President-Elect and Lucy H. Sinkular, Esq. as the State Bar of New Mexico's Secretary-Treasurer.

The State Bar of New Mexico's Officer Swearing-In Ceremony will take place on Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. (MT) at the New Mexico Supreme Court Building, located at 237 Don Gaspar Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87501, where other members of the State Bar’s leadership and the legal community will be in attendance. The Swearing-In Ceremony will also be livestreamed starting at 4 p.m. (MT) on the State Bar’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@StateBarofNewMexico/streams.

This event is open to members of the media to attend. Members of the media must obtain advance approval by the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office to bring a cell phone, camera or other electronic device into the New Mexico Supreme Court building. To obtain the necessary advance approval, members of the media must contact Barry Massey, Chief Communications Officer, Administrative Office of the Courts at 505-470-3436 or bmassey@nmcourts.gov.