Speakers: Judge Sandra Engel retired from the bench in September of 2022. She served as a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge for over 16 years. She currently sits on the bench as a senior judge. She received her B.S. in Marketing from the University of Alabama and received her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1993. After moving to New Mexico, she spent a few years in private practice handling both civil and criminal cases, acting as a guardian ad litem, CASA and respondent’s attorney in child abuse cases. She was an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Rio Rancho, handling primarily DWI cases, and served as Assistant District Attorney for the Second Judicial District, Bernalillo County for 10 years prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases. As a judge, she presided over a large misdemeanor criminal docket. In addition to the duties of her regular criminal docket, she also had been heavily involved in specialty courts. She created, implemented, and presided over the Community Veterans Court; a specialty treatment court designed to help effectuate treatment for Veterans coming through Metropolitan Court. She created and implemented the Courts to School Program where Defendants are sentenced in front of high school and college students with the purpose of educating and deterring the students from drinking and driving. She also served as Presiding Judge of the Domestic Violence Early Intervention Program (EIP). She served as presiding judge over the criminal division of the Metropolitan Court and served as chief judge as well, managing a C-Suite and staff of over 300 employees. In 2021, Judge Engel became an executive leadership coach, working with law students, judges, attorneys, and business leaders. She completed her coach training and received her certification from ICF as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and is currently pursuing her PCC. She has completed the Train the Trainer Program through the Justice Coaching Center and now trains and supports the implementation of coaching programs in judiciaries around the nation. She specializes in leadership/ performance coaching and transformational transition coaching. She regularly presents at legal conferences in the areas of leadership and well-being. Pamela Moore, LPCC, CCTP currently serves as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Director of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Legal Well Being Department where she educates the legal community on positive health and well-being and assists in providing resources and services to any legal professional struggling with mental, emotional or behavioral issues. Ms. Moore served as an advisory member to the National Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs in 2019, 2020, and again in 2026 and is the current New Mexico representative for the Institute for Well Being In Law. Eduardo Ramirez is an Assistant Public Defender with the Law Offices of the Public Defender in the Hobbs Office. Eduardo joined the LOPD family in February of 2021 after relocating to New Mexico at the end of 2020. Eduardo earned his law school degree from the University of Colorado Law School, graduating in May 2019. He is the first in his family to not only graduate from college, but also law school. Since as far back as he can remember, Eduardo has always had a passion for helping individuals who are underprivileged and impoverished. Growing up in poverty himself, he saw many people struggle with the criminal justice system and just how important effective representation is. As an adult, Eduardo has learned the importance of self-care, to continue representing clients to the best of his ability. He helps with their criminal case but also makes efforts to better their lives. Eduardo is a zealous advocate, and his goal is to eventually rid the notion of a “public pretender.” Luckily, he has amazing mentorship and colleagues down in Hobbs who help him, and he would not be the attorney he is, without them! Outside of work, Eduardo enjoys being involved in the community, caring for his various plants, and his lovely Pit Bull, Izabel. Disclaimer: Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by the State Bar of New Mexico and/or the State Bar Foundation. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and not intended as statements on behalf of their employers.
