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Law Offices of the Public Defender Commission 

In 2012, the citizens of New Mexico voted to move the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) under the Judiciary branch of the state government to be overseen, guided and supported by a newly-created Public Defender Commission. In 2013, the Public Defender Commission formed and appointed the first Chief Public Defender under a new independent format. Since then, the LOPD has been undergoing a transformation into a career law firm – the state’s biggest – and engaging in advocacy for our clients in ways the previous structure prohibited.

Commission meetings are open to the public.

Meeting Schedule

New Mexico Public Defender Commission Meeting June 11, 2025 at 3:30pm Crown Plaza Hotel 1901 University Blvd NE Albuquerque New Mexico

Zoom Link:  https://zoom.us/j/99823652265?pwd=Iaa443yQX1vUhvHPWDheEKD4RXH3yn.1 

LOPD Commissioners

Gina Maestas, Albuquerque- Chair

Raymond Sanchez, Albuquerque- Vice Chair

Sheila Lewis- Santa Fe

Justice Richard Bosson, Ret., Santa Fe

Jacqueline Flores, Albuquerque

Maria Padilla, Albuquerque

Michael Sanchez, Belen

Melissa Sawyers, Hobbs

Peter Schoenburg, Albuquerque

Agendas & Archive

Upcoming Agenda: June 11th 2025 Agenda

Archive agendas and meeting minutes:

Jan 17th 2025 Agenda

April 19, 2024 Agenda

September 8th 2023 Agenda

February 5th 2021 Agenda/Minutes

April 9th 2021 Agenda/Minutes

January 14th 2022 Agenda/Minutes

June 10th 2022 Agenda/Minutes

August 18th 2022 Agenda/ Minutes

June 7th 2023 Agenda/ Minutes

For older minutes and agendas, contact LOPD Records Custodian abby.adamo@lopdnm.us.

PDF LOPD Constitutional Amendment 5

Public Defender Act