Los Alamos Reporter

Court Of Appeals Celebrates Milestone By One Of Its Judges Who Has Written 1,000 Opinions

Court of Appeals Judge J. Miles Hanisee holding a gift from his law clerks that displays the names of the 1,000 court cases in which he wrote the opinions. From left, Kara Shair Rosenfield (former clerk), Court of Appeals Judge Kristopher Houghton (former clerk), Walker Boyd (former clerk), Judge Hanisee, Mary Helen Pavlides (current clerk), Breanne Potter (current clerk), Graciela Esquivel (former clerk), and Oliver Stephanz (former clerk). Photo courtesy of the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Courtesy photo

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS NEWS RELEASE

The state Court of Appeals honored Judge J. Miles Hanisee this week for his contributions to New Mexico law by writing 1,000 opinions so far in his tenure on the appellate court.

Judge Hanisee was first appointed to the court in 2011, and served as its chief judge from 2019 to 2023.

“Judge Hanisee’s achievement is remarkable,” said Chief Judge Jacqueline R. Medina. “His authorship of 1,000 opinions in civil and criminal cases stands as a testament to his firm dedication to the law and commitment to serving the people of New Mexico. Judge Hanisee, like each of our judges, strives to write opinions that clearly and cogently provide the legal reasoning and conclusions for the Court’s decisions.”

Court of Appeals judges and staff along with Judge Hanisee’s former law clerks celebrated his achievement during a gathering Wednesday at the Court of Appeals building in Albuquerque.

“I look forward to writing many more opinions,” said Judge Hanisee. “Preparing opinions is a collaborative process with my colleagues, staff attorneys, and law clerks that I enjoy.”

The judge’s 1,000th opinion came in State v. Griffin, A-1-CA-41985, which was filed on Nov. 12.

The Court of Appeals is New Mexico’s intermediate appellate court. It decides appeals in civil, non-capital criminal and juvenile cases, and has discretionary jurisdiction over most cases appealed by administrative agencies. The 10 judges on the court act in panels of three on opinions. An agreement of two judges is required to decide a case.