“Can’t Pass the Bar Exam(Deb Haaland)? New Mexico’s Supreme Court Just Created Another Path to Practicing Law.”
Is this good for New Mexico?
As in the movie Naked Gun, Lieutenant Frank Drebin stands in front of a massively exploding fireworks factory as he yells to the crowd, “All right, move on … Nothing to see here…” The crowd knows there is something to see, and we know there is.
Just when Deb Haaland inability to pass the New Mexico Bar Exam has become a political liability, the Democratic-controlled NM Supreme Court has come to her rescue. In early August, in the middle of the Governor’s race between Haaland and Hull, the NM Supreme Court ruled that attorneys do not need to pass the NM Bar Exam (a law degree and on-the-job training are sufficient).
Did the New Mexico Supreme Court decide to intervene on behalf of Deb Haaland? Did they allow all failing want-to-be attorneys to become attorneys because they couldn't just make an exception for Deb Haaland? Will Kim Kardashian join Deb Haaland now to practice law?
Shouldn’t the NM Supreme Court be investigating why Deb Haaland and other want-to-be attorneys cannot pass the NM Bar exam? Is this the result of NM School of Law admitting students based on diversity, equity, and inclusion, not merit?
Why should want-to-be attorneys not be required to pass the NM Bar exam? And cosmetologists, hair stylists, barbers, manicurists and pedicurists, hvac workers, plumbers, and electricians are required to pass an exam to practice their profession, but not attorneys? I don’t believe these professional schools admit their students based on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Is that why they can pass their exams and there is no campaign to end them?
I have heard Progressive Democrats express excitement about Deb Haaland as New Mexico’s Governor because she would be the first Native American Woman Governor in the United States of America. That would be true, but to me it is more important that the next New Mexico Governor has the skills and track record to turn our state around. Someone who can make our neighborhoods safe for families, schools that can prepare our children for a bright future, a state with good-paying jobs that support families, and ensure our sick and injured can be healed right here in our state.
Let’s choose our next Governor on merit because we cannot afford another four years that can’t pass the test of time.
For the record:
I have a civil engineering degree, and I passed the engineer-in-training exam, but I am not a licensed professional engineer (I did not pass the professional engineer exam). I have New Mexico construction licenses: GA-98 (streets to highways), GB-98 (commercial and industrial), GF-98 (infrastructure) (passed all associated exams). I am a certified professional estimator (I passed the ASPE exam).
My spouse was a registered pharmacist in California and Oregon (passed both state boards). Our oldest daughter is a Medical Doctor (passed her boards) and was a surgical Physician Assistant (passed her boards). Our son is a licensed contractor (passed exams for GB-98). Our second daughter is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (passed her boards).
Our family is familiar with preparing for, taking, and retaking professional exams. They are challenging and stressful. But society must ensure that the person designing our buildings and infrastructure, responsible for our physical well-being, and defending us in a court of law meets or exceeds the established minimum standards. If students graduating from New Mexico’s professional programs cannot pass the required test, we need to re-evaluate our professional programs, from student selection to the curriculum.
Next year, I intend to investigate the University of New Mexico’s professional schools. I will review their selection processes, graduation rates, and their graduates’ rates of passing their professional boards.
