In this episode of Legal Well-Being in Action, we explore the unique challenges judges can face in maintaining their well-being while serving on the bench. Honorable Judges Dustin Hunter, Cindy Leos, and Sandra Engel come together for an honest conversation about balancing the weight of traumatic cases, the constant stream of political and national news, and the isolation that can come with judicial service. Together, they discuss practical strategies for managing stress, setting healthy boundaries with technology and media, staying present in the courtroom, and finding perspective through gratitude, reflection, exercise, and peer support. The conversation also highlights the importance of remembering the human side of the legal profession—both for judges and attorneys—and why personal wellness is an essential competency for delivering fairness, compassion, and justice.
Judge Sandra Engel (J.D., PCC) retired from the bench in September of 2022. She served as a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge for over 16 years and still sits as a pro-tem/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. 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 for many years as an appointed member of the Code of Judicial Conduct Committee, Tribal- State Judicial Consortium Committee, Advisory Board of the Code of Judicial Conduct Committee and as a committee member on the Supreme Court Ad Hoc Pretrial Release Committee. She served as Chief Judge over the Metropolitan Court as well as Presiding Judge over the criminal division of Metropolitan Court. She now serves as the program manager for the New Mexico State Bar’s Judicial Wellness Program and serves as an executive leadership coach for judges and attorneys.
Judge Cindy Leos is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and attended Moriarty High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado in 1997, and earned her Juris Doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Illinois in 2002. Her professional experience includes civil defense in Chicago and Albuquerque, Children’s Court Attorney for Child Protective Services with Children, Youth and Families Division, Felony Attorney for the New Mexico Office of the Public Defender and, before taking the bench, solo practitioner concentrating on criminal defense. Judge Leos was elected on November 8, 2016 to the criminal division in the Second Judicial District Court. Judge Leos also presides over the Young Adult Court diversion program which she assisted in developing in 2017. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys spending time with her four dogs. She is also an avid runner, cyclist, motorcyclist and crotchetier.
Judge Dustin Hunter is a general-jurisdiction District Court Judge based in Roswell, New Mexico, where he has served for 10 years. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University School of Law, graduating magna cum laude and Order of the Coif. He attended Texas Tech on a full academic scholarship and was a member of the Texas Tech Law Review. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Cameron University, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science. While at Cameron, he was Student Body President. He currently serves as President of the District, Metropolitan and Appellate Judges Association, which represents over 130 member judges on the New Mexico Judicial Council. Judge Hunter is Chair of the local pro bono committee and is a member of the Rules of Professional Responsibility Committee. He helps run the adult treatment court and serves as a mentor judge and judicial coach to other judges in New Mexico. Judge Hunter has been married for 34 years and has two children.
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 information on this podcast is for informational purposes only, and does not create an attorney client relationship. The information provided does not constitute legal advice.
The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and not intended as statements on behalf of their employers.