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O'Leary educates new water law judges
Marilyn O’Leary, director of the UNM Utton Center for Transboundary Resources, has been tapped to train New Mexico’s judges in water law.
In 2003, working with the State Engineer’s Office and the Interstate Stream Commission, O’Leary researched and wrote a report on the Colorado Water Court System in an effort to measure its applicability in New Mexico.
Designating a judge in each state district who would hear, and rule on, water rights cases, was among her recommendations. Gov. Bill Richardson announced this past January that the New Mexico Supreme Court would order each state district court to create a “water court division” to help resolve water rights disputes.
The Supreme Court charged the UNM Center for Judicial Education, Institute for Public Law, School of Law, with educating judges and staff in water law and procedure. O’Leary recently taught a two-hour JEC training seminar for new water law judges. A daylong seminar is planned for October, taught by UNM Professor of Law Em Hall. |