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For further information regarding our team of neutrals, call Meghan Lettington at 949-760-5280, or email MLettington@phillipsadr.com
Areas of expertise:
Timothy L. Garcia is a retired trial and appellate judge who last served on the New Mexico Court of Appeals until 2018. He has over forty years of legal experience as a private attorney, trial court judge, and appellate court judge. After serving over fifteen years on the bench, Judge Garcia now practices in his Santa Fe office as a panel member of the PADRE team. Known for his preparation, detail-oriented analysis and interactive approach to resolving tough cases, Judge Garcia now focuses his legal practice in the areas of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, in-depth case evaluation, and other settlement facilitation services.
Before his appointment to the bench in 2002, Judge Garcia had eighteen years of litigation experience. This experience included significant trials in the New Mexico District Court, as well as appeals before the New Mexico Court of Appeals and New Mexico Supreme Court.
He also practiced before the federal district court in the district of New Mexico, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Tax Court. As lead counsel, he tried commercial litigation cases as well as cases involving civil and criminal tax liability, contested will and probate administration, real estate disputes, business transaction disputes, and felony criminal defense.
After appointment to the trial court in 2002, Judge Garcia presided over hundreds of civil and criminal trials, including one death penalty prosecution. In his civil docket, Judge Garcia presided over high-profile cases involving class action claims, wrongful death, personal injury, product liability and major catastrophes.
After appointment to the court of appeals in 2009, Judge Garcia authored hundreds of opinions, including numerous Fourth and Fifth Amendment cases and other felony criminal appeals. Other opinions authored on the civil calendar included bad faith insurance claims, civil rights claims, workers’ compensation claims, state and federal constitutional interpretations, remittitur of larger jury verdicts, the unconscionability of nursing home contracts, and the strict standing requirements in NM for enforcing foreclosure lawsuits.
Judge Garcia also sat by designation on the New Mexico Supreme Court to address an administrative utility appeal from the Public Regulation Commission and a sovereign immunity appeal under the New Mexico Tort Claims Act.
Judge Garcia has a life-long background in the sport of tennis. He competed in college at the University of New Mexico where he achieved All-American honors and later played as an ATP touring professional before entering law school in 1981. He assists the United States Tennis Association in numerous capacities, including serving as the chairman over the administrative hearing and grievance process before the USTA Grievance Committee in 2013-14. He also served as Southwest Section president in 2016-17, and two terms as a national counsel chair for youth tennis in America from 2015-18.
Representative cases:
1. State of NM v. J.P. Morgan, et al. (2021 PADRE case with Layn); Case No. D-101-CV-2014-00256;
2. Roland v. Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education; Case No. D-202-CV-2020-07015;
3. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority v. Roman Serrano, et al.; pre-litigation case;
4. Benjamin Swope v. Colfax County Board of Commissioners, et. al.; Case No. D-809-CV-2023-00022;
© 2025 PHILLIPS ADR | 2101 East Coast Highway, Suite 250, Corona Del Mar, California 92625 | (949) 760-5280 | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions