A Strong Education: the Basis for a Strong Future
Education
Kari was born and raised in Albuquerque. She spent her early years attending the city’s public schools, graduating from Sandia High School in 1972.
In 1976, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in political science from Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas.
In 1979, she graduated from Southern Methodist University School of Law, in Dallas, Texas.
Legal Qualifications
In July of 1979, Kari sat for the New Mexico bar exam and was admitted to the State Bar of New Mexico one month later.
From 1979 to 2000, when she was elected to her first term as Second Judicial District Attorney, Kari practiced before most courts in New Mexico—including metropolitan, magistrate, and district courts.
In addition, she was a member of the CJA (Criminal Justice Act) panel, practiced in federal court, and was also a member of the Bar Association of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.
Other jurisdictions in which Kari has been admitted to practice are:
-United States Federal Court, District of Northern California
-10th Circuit of the United State’s Court of Appeals
Additional Training
Education is a lifelong pursuit for Kari, who makes it a priority to attend courses as Second Judicial District Attorney. Among them are:
-Annual in-house June Jubilee trainings
-Annual Association of District Attorneys’ Spring and Fall conferences
-The Prosecutor and the Media (2001)
-Practical Homicide Investigation (2002)
-District Attorneys’ Executive Course (2003)
-Community Prosecution (2004)
-National District Attorney’s Association’s Summer Conference (2006)
-National College of District Attorneys (2006)
-National District Attorney’s Association’s Board Meeting (2006)
-National District Attorney’s Association’s Board Meeting (2007)