ACLU of New Mexico names new executive director

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico named Leon Howard as its executive director Monday, ending a nationwide search by choosing a homegrown lawyer with nearly a decade of experience in the organization.

“I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my career,” Howard said. “To lead this organization to new heights during a time when civil rights and liberties are under attack.”

Howard has been the interim executive director since September, when longstanding director Peter Simonson stepped down after 24 years at the helm of the organization. Howard described Simonson as a mentor and humble leader.

Prior to this appointment, Howard served as a staff attorney, legal director and deputy director of ACLU-NM.

Howard’s vision for the ACLU’s future is a continued dedication to protecting the rights of immigrants, Indigenous people and nations, as well as those in the criminal legal system, he said. Another goal, Howard said, is to pave a path for people of color in the legal profession through mentorship and diverse hiring.

As of 2020, a report by the American Bar Association estimates that 14% of lawyers are people of color. However, this number is far from a complete picture as most state bars do not record statistics on ethnicity or race, according to the report.

“When there’s a lack of representation in the legal community, it’s no wonder why some of these outcomes are so devastating for Black communities,” Howard said.

Additionally, Howard will focus on collaborating with local advocacy groups and communities. Growing and sustaining that connection is crucial for the ACLU to succeed in New Mexico, Howard said.

Of Howard’s yearslong civil rights career, he said one of the most noteworthy cases is McKenzie Johnson v. Board of Education, which the New Mexico Supreme Court decided this year.

In 2018, a former Cibola High School English teacher, Mary Jane Eastin, cut a Native American student’s braids and called another student “a bloody Indian” during class, setting off a legal battle, led by Howard, over students’ civil rights.

This year, the New Mexico Supreme Court decided that public school students are protected by anti-discrimination clauses in the New Mexico Human Rights Act, overturning a 1981 state precedent.

“It has been a journey,” Howard said.