Commission on Equity

judge, a member of the Legislature and attorneys.

Members from other groups, including the New Mexico LGBTQ Bar Association, the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association and the New Mexico Women’s Bar Association, have been encouraged to participate as nonvoting members.

Seventy-two people participated in Friday’s virtual meeting. Fewer than a dozen nonparticipants observed online.

Jacobus said in an interview following the meeting it may be difficult to get some of the state’s judges to admit bias and inequity exists within the judiciary.

“Some people just don’t see it if it doesn’t impact them, and they lack the imagination to see that it impacts other people,” she said. “Others do see it but would rather not discuss it because they feel if they don’t discuss it maybe it will go away.”

But she said she’s ready to do the difficult work, and the group plans to present information to judicial members in settings they can’t avoid.

For example, one of the group’s first goals is to refine presentations it will make during an annual judicial conclave in September, which is mandatory for all judges to attend.

Administrative Office of the Courts spokesman Barry Massey said in an email Friday the commission is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to noon on March 26, May 28, Aug. 27 and Oct. 29.

Massey said the commission is working on developing a “public-facing site” at which people can access the group’s meeting materials and agendas.

Some people just don’t see [racial inequity] if it doesn’t impact them, and they lack the imagination to see that it impacts other people.” Chairwoman Torri Jacobus