History of the Oliver Seth Inn of Court

The vibrant Inn that we know today is the result of the creative efforts of the
Honorable Paul Kelly, Senior Judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, former District
Court Judge Paul Kastler, former District Court Judge Steven Herrera (deceased), Jack
McCarthy, John Pound and David Cunningham. These jurists and distinguished
members of the bar started collaborating on the goal of establishing an American Inn of
Court for Northern New Mexico in 1992. They wanted a forum where judges, and
attorneys for plaintiffs and defendants could discuss issues of trial practice, jury
techniques and ethics in a sociable way over a good meal.

The application for a charter to the American Inns of Court was granted and the
Oliver Seth Inn of Court held its first meeting on August 25, 1993. Judge Kelly agreed
to serve as the President and continued in that role until May of 2022. David
Cunningham served as the Inn’s Counselor and John Pound served as the Treasurer
for many years prior to Judge Kelly’s decision to step down.

The Inn owes a great debt of gratitude to Judge Kelly for his tireless work over
his many years of service as the Inn’s President, and to David Cunningham and John
Pound for their able assistance in managing the Inn.

Over the years the Inn has hosted many notable speakers and programs.
Supreme Court Justice Byron White addressed the Inn during one of his visits to Santa
Fe at Judge Kelly’s invitation. Judge Kelly also persuaded the renowned constitutional
law scholar Erwin Chemerinsky to deliver one of his famously entertaining Supreme
Court term reviews at an Inn meeting.

The Inn invites all current and former members to submit descriptions of other
memorable Inn meetings that may be of interest to the membership.