James is 8 years old.

He has watched his mother lose housing, transportation, legal protection, and stability — not because she failed him, but because the systems designed to protect families failed first. 

THE GAP THAT KEEPS HARMING FAMILIES

Under NMRA 17-307, New Mexico's Disciplinary Board reviews each complaint against an attorney in isolation.

That means:
- One complaint = reviewed alone
- Two complaints = reviewed alone
- Five complaints = still reviewed alone

There is no cumulative review. No pattern recognition. No escalation trigger that says: this attorney has harmed multiple families — something is wrong.

Repeat offenders stay licensed.
Children pay the price.

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WHAT THIS COST MY SON

Every court delay was a week James spent without stability.
Every denied motion was another month without safety.
Every hour I spent filing was an hour I couldn't give him.

He is 8 years old. He should be worrying about nothing. Instead he has watched the adults who were supposed to protect him look the other way — over and over again.

No child should become collateral damage in a system that protects attorneys and institutions more than it protects families.

The specific rule with the gap we are asking to fix: Rule 17-307 NMRA — New Mexico Rules Governing Discipline 🔗 https://supremecourt.nmcourts.gov

To file or search attorney complaints yourself: New Mexico Disciplinary Board — Public Records Search 🔗 https://nmdisboard.org

WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR

We are asking the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Disciplinary Board to:

1. Create a cumulative review process under NMRA 17-307
   Connect the dots when the same attorney harms multiple clients.

2. Implement automatic escalation triggers
   Multiple complaints against one attorney must trigger investigation — not be filed separately and forgotten.

3. Protect families from repeat offenders
   No attorney with a pattern of grievances should remain in good standing without review.

4. Prioritize child safety in oversight decisions
   When attorney misconduct destabilizes a child's life, it must be treated as urgent.

5. Increase transparency for families
   Parents deserve to know an attorney's complaint history before trusting them with their children's futures.

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YOUR SIGNATURE MATTERS

This is not just about my son.
This is about every family who has been told to be patient while their child was in danger.
This is about every mother who fought alone because the system left her no choice.
This is about children who lost their childhood to institutional failure.

Sign this petition.
Share it.
Make sure no family has to survive what we survived.

— Vanessa, Albuquerque, NM

Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/fix-nmra-17-307-protect-new-mexico-children

Donate $5: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-james-stability

If you'd like to support James and me directly while we fight: