Contract Counsel
In areas of New Mexico where there is no Law Offices of the Public Defender office or in instances of a conflict of interest in a criminal case, Contract Counsel Legal Services coordinates with private attorneys on a contract to represent indigent clients. On average, CCLS works with 120-130 private attorneys across the state. These private attorneys, which are considered contract counsel, are awarded contracts through an RFP process every 1 to 3 years. Contract Counsel Legal Services oversees the administration of the contracts and whether the contract attorney is complying with their contractual and ethical obligations to their clients. All contract counsel must comply with the Performance Standards of the Law Offices of the Public Defender.
Because contract counsel are not employees of LOPD, if you want to reach your attorney, you must call their office or the contact they provide you. Please visit the link below to look up contact information for your attorney. If you don’t know your attorney’s name, please call the CCLS office at (505)-395-2892.
Randy Chavez
Director of Contract Counsel Legal Services
4600 Montgomery Blvd. NE Suite 201
Albuquerque, NM 87109
randy.chavez@ccls.lopdnm.us
Phone: (505) 545-8643 (Ext. 10872)
Administration of Contract Counsel Legal Services
MONICA CRUZ
Office Manager
Email: monica.cruz@ccls.lopdnm.us
Telephone: (505) 715-4999 (Ext. 10886)
Manages staff, addresses client complaints, and processes contracts and Litigation Services Requests (LSRs).
THOMAS KELLEY
Business Operations Manager
Email: tom.kelley@ccls.lopdnm.us
Telephone: (505) 545-8641 (Ext. 10884)
Contract processing and management, budget tracking, DefenderData issues, and RFP Processing.
JENNIFER JONES
Paralegal 2
Email: Jennifer.jones@ccls.lopdnm.us
Telephone: (505) 545-8640 (Ext. 10883)
Liaison between courts, contractors, Public Defender offices, and clients regarding assignment of cases. Assigns Murder cases statewide.
RENEE DELAFUENTE
Financial Specialist 2
Email: renee.delafuente@ccls.lopdnm.us
Telephone: (505) 545-8642 (Ext. 10885)
Audits Contract Counsel monthly vouchers for payment and addresses Contract Counsel billing issues.
RICHEL TAPIA
Financial Specialist 2
Email: richel.tapia@ccls.lopdnm.us
Telephone: (505) 835-2211 (Ext. 10001)
Audits Contract Counsel monthly vouchers for payment and addresses Contract Counsel billing issues.
SUZIE CASTILLO
Legal Assistant
Email: suzie.castillo@ccls.lopdnm.us
Telephone: (505) 629-8677 (Ext. 10887)
Provides assistance for Valencia County applicants, courts, and detention. Assigns all cases to contractors in Valencia County.