JOHN DARDEN

GENERAL OVERVIEW

John Darden is a practicing attorney and former United States Magistrate Judge. For almost forty-six years he has participated in numerous cases involving construction issues. An experienced jurist and arbitrator, John Darden is a trained arbitrator who has participated in numerous adjudications. Through the practice of law as arbitrator, hearing officer, United States Magistrate Judge and attorney, John Darden understands that litigation is an expensive process and resolution of disputes where possible is preferable to a formal hearing. On the other hand, he has adjudicated many large claims.

EDUCATION

John Darden attended the United States Military Academy and the University of Arizona where he received his Juris Doctor in 1969. He clerked for the chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court and thereafter served as an assistant attorney general. John has continued his education in many ways.
He received training offered by the Federal Judicial Center while serving as United States Magistrate Judge. He also has undertaken continuing education through the American Arbitration Association, the American Bar Association’s Section on Dispute Resolution, and FINRA.

ADMISSIONS

Supreme Court in Arizona; U.S. District Court, Arizona; Supreme Court of New Mexico; 
U.S. District Court, New Mexico; Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals; United States Patent and Trademark Office, Registered; United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals; United States Supreme Court; Supreme Court of Colorado

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES

State Bar of Arizona
State Bar of New Mexico
        Past Chair of Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust;
        Past Member, Advisory Opinions Committee and chair southern
New Mexico sub-committee during five years of the committee service;
        Peer Review Panel, Third Judicial District; 
        Past Member board of directors, Senior Lawyers Division; 
        Member, Committee on Dispute Resolution.
Supreme Court of Colorado
Past Member American Intellectual Property Law Association
Fellow American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
Past President, DoZa Ana County Bar Association
Past Member Association of United States Magistrates
American Arbitration Association panels of commercial and employment law arbitrators
Albert J. Fountain Inns of Court, Master of the Law
Forum
Construction Disputes Resolution Services, LLC

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Past Chairman Sunshine District of Yucca Council, Boy Scouts of America
Past President Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Past Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Whole Enchilada Fiesta, Inc.
Past Member New Mexico Nature Conservancy Board of Trustees
Past President, Chairman of Board, New Mexico State Board of Education
Past Member Board of Directors New Mexico Public School Insurance Authority
Past Member Board of Directors Leadership New Mexico, Inc.
Past Chairman Board of Governors Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces

HONORS AND AWARDS

Las Cruces Citizen of the Year -- BPOE Elks
Las Cruces Distinguished Citizen Award -- BPOE Elks
Kiwanis Club of Las Cruces -- Honorary Life Member
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION TRAINING 
(Past ten years)

12/15/04 Arbitrator Ethics and Disclosure

4/3/08 to 4/5/08 American Bar Association Spring Alternative Dispute Resolution Training

9/13/08 Construction Dispute Resolution Services, LLC Training Course

9/14/08 Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Training by Construction Dispute Resolution Services, LLC

11/11/08 Angels and Demons: How Attorneys Help and Hinder Alternative Dispute Resolution

8/25/09 Conflicts between Federal and State Laws

11/17/09 Litigator's Perspective on Fiduciary Liability

10/27/11 American Arbitration Association Confronting Arbitrability and Jurisdiction issues in Arbitration

01/26/12 American Arbitration Association Solving the Puzzle of “Just Cause” in Labor Arbitration

03/29/12 American Arbitration Association Arbitrating a Difficult Discharge Case

02/26/2013 American Arbitration Association Confidentiality in Labor and Employment Arbitration 04/16/2014 American Arbitration Association: The Preliminary Hearing: Preliminary, But Not Just Procedural

05/19/2014 American Arbitration Association What’s a Respondent Like You doing in a Place like This – Confronting Arbitrability and Jurisdiction Issues in Arbitration

04/16-18/15 American Bar Association Spring Alternative Dispute Resolution Training

05/02/15 FINRA Dispute Resolution: Basic Arbitrator Training

05/05/15 FINRA Dispute Resolution: Expungement

06/25/15 FINRA Dispute Resolution Live Web training for arbitrators

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

John is an accomplished public speaker resulting from experiences as President of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and President of the New Mexico State Board of Education.

COMPENSATION

John charges $300 per hour plus applicable gross receipts tax. In addition certain costs as set forth in the Construction Dispute Resolution Services, LLC fee schedule may be charged.