The New Mexico Judiciary announced on April 7 a new educational program called “To the Roots” designed to help judges explore the law and its origins through collaboration with three research and academic institutions.
The initiative aims to deepen judicial understanding of how legal principles intersect with technological, societal, and scientific changes. According to Chief Justice David K. Thomson, “This is an advanced program for judges that blends scientific methods from Los Alamos National Laboratory, seminar-based studies at St. John’s College, and cross-disciplinary research at the Santa Fe Institute.” Thomson said the goal is for judges “to think more deeply about the law and its intersection with technological, societal and scientific changes occurring today.”
The Santa Fe Institute will provide sessions focused on legal issues related to artificial intelligence as well as fairness and transparency in algorithms used within the justice system. St. John’s College will lead seminars examining precedent-setting legal decisions along with foundational documents such as the Federalist Papers.
Los Alamos National Laboratory will help prepare judges to assess scientific evidence presented in courtrooms by introducing them to methodologies of scientific research. The lab’s involvement builds upon a week-long Judicial Science School previously developed in partnership with the Judiciary over a decade ago.
The first session of “To the Roots” is scheduled during judge training later this year. Chief Justice Thomson expressed hope that future expansions could include longer seminars, workshops, mentorships, or hands-on experiences involving St. John’s College, Santa Fe Institute, or Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Reflecting on his inspiration for creating this program, Thomson cited his upbringing in Santa Fe surrounded by cultural history and exposure to historical documents like Federalist No. 78: “We want our judges to step back and reflect on foundational principles in the law so they can emerge with sharper analytical skills and a greater understanding of our legal framework for resolving disputes,” he said. “In exploring how the law, humanities and science intersect in New Mexico, the program also celebrates our state’s unique and diverse culture.”
