About Jack
Jack Mkhitarian built his legal foundation at the University of New Mexico. He completed undergraduate studies at the Anderson School of Management and went on to earn a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Those years taught him the practical side of advocacy and the procedural mechanics of the courts he now appears in.
After law school he established a practice in New Mexico. Over time he developed experience handling criminal matters in both state and federal settings. He is admitted to practice in New Mexico and holds membership in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. These admissions allow him to take cases beyond the state level and appear in federal court when required.
Mkhitarian also serves on the United States District Court’s Criminal Justice Act Panel of Lawyers. That role places him among panels of attorneys available to accept appointed federal criminal defense work. Panel membership involves following court protocols for appointment and case management. It also means he regularly interacts with federal court procedures and the expectations tied to appointed representation.
Colleagues describe him as a lawyer who prepares thoroughly. He tends to the details that matter in criminal files: charging documents, discovery, motions practice and negotiation. He has experience drafting pleadings, arguing pretrial motions and representing clients at hearings. His practice has required familiarity with both trial advocacy and the written advocacy needed in appellate filings.
He is based at New Mexico Criminal Law Offices. There he works on matters that arise in the state system and cases that proceed in federal court. His courtroom work ranges from initial appearances and arraignments to contested motions and trial work. He also handles the written work that supports those appearances: briefs, sentencing submissions and post-conviction filings when they are appropriate.
Outside the courtroom he stays connected to the local legal environment. He keeps current on criminal procedure and federal practice through the court systems where he is admitted. He balances casework with the administrative responsibilities of practice in a small firm setting. Currently he practices criminal defense and accepts appointments through the federal CJA panel, handling both state and federal criminal matters.
