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June 6, 2001

   
   
Ex-Judge Rests Up for Mideast Women's Project
   
By Jeff Jones
Journal Staff Writer
    Diane Dal Santo's life has been in an intermission of sorts for the past few months. But that's all set to change for the longtime Albuquerque judge.
    Dal Santo, 51, retired in November after serving on two of the busiest trial courts in the state Metropolitan Court and District Court, both in Albuquerque.
    Dal Santo said earlier this week that she's done some temporary judge work in both courts since she's retired.
    She also bought a puppy, a bichon frise she named Chloe, has done some scuba diving with her husband, Fred O'Cheskey, in Mexico and is taking an art class. But Dal Santo said a main component of her life in the past few months is sleep and plenty of it.
    "I think I've been catching up on at least 25 years of sleep deprivation," Dal Santo said. She said for years, "I don't think I've slept more than 5 to 7 hours a night ... . Now, I'm sleeping 9 to 11 hours a night. I must have been so tired, because I feel so different today ... physically and mentally, in every aspect of my life."
    Dal Santo said she will be well-rested to handle what's coming up in her life. She said she's working with the National Judicial College in the Middle East. As part of that project, Dal Santo plans to teach classes to women there to help them deal with discrimination and bias.
    Dal Santo said she also could be teaching court-related matters to law officers in other countries, and both teaching jobs could be firmed up by the end of the year.
    There's also a compact disc in the works: Dal Santo has performed as a singer in local nightclubs, and she's now working on a blues and jazz CD that could be completed by autumn.
    For now, "I'm sort of trying to enjoy this time where it seems like I'm not doing anything that's real demanding," Dal Santo said.
    When asked if she misses being a full-time judge, Dal Santo said no.
    "I think I was ready to go, and I did the right thing," she said. "Now, there's something else I'm supposed to be doing."