Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI; view more
Licensed in New Mexico since: 1991
Education: The University of New Mexico School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026 Call today:
505-308-6800
Free Consultation Lisa Torraco Law
823 Gold Ave. SWAlbuquerque, NM 87102 Visit website
At Lisa Torraco Law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lisa Torraco stands out as a seasoned trial attorney with a knack for tenaciously defending her clients both in the courtroom and beyond. Her practice delves into criminal defense investigations, proactive preindictment strategies, and navigating the complex terrain of criminal appeals and litigation.
Moreover, Ms. Torraco is a vocal champion for criminal justice reform in New Mexico, frequently sharing her insights on various radio and television platforms to advocate for meaningful changes in the system. Educationally, she holds a J.D. from The University of New Mexico School of Law in Albuquerque. She also earned a certificate of international criminal studies from the University of San Diego School of Law. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in economics from The University of New Mexico. She was licensed to practice law in New Mexico in 1991.
Ms. Torraco's unwavering dedication to reform is both steadfast and inspiring. Actively engaged in the "Right on Crime" movement, she champions a more thoughtful and practical justice system. During her tenure in the New Mexico State Senate from 2013 to 2017, she co-chaired the Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee during the 2013-2014 interim, underscoring her commitment to enacting meaningful change.
Throughout her career, Ms. Torraco has held significant positions, including Senior Managing Attorney in the Child Abuse Division across Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties and Assistant District Attorney in the 1st and 2nd District Attorneys' Offices. She also enriched the minds of future legal professionals as an adjunct professor at The University of New Mexico School of Law from 1996 to 2006, sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience.
An upstanding figure in the legal circle, Ms. Torraco boasts a "Superb" rating on Avvo and has received honors such as being named among the Best DUI Lawyers in Albuquerque, recognized as a Lawyer of Distinction, awarded Best in Government by Common Cause and named New Prosecutor of the Year by the New Mexico Bar Association.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWIFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Debt, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, Failure to Pay Child Support, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Overdrawn Bank Account, Parole, Probation, Prosecution, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations
- 80% Criminal Defense
- 20% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
First Admitted: 1991, New Mexico
Professional Webpage: https://www.lisatorracolaw.com/attorney/torraco-lisa-a/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member, New Mexico Criminal Defense Attorney, 2006
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- New Mexico, 1991
- National Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, 2024
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- State v Vallejos. NOT GUILTY 1st degree murder and Aggravated burglary and Aggravated battery. All charges NOT GUILTY unanimous jury verdict., 2023
- DISMISSED State v. Maestas M-45-VF - 2024-00101, 1912
- DISMISSED State v. CHAVEZ-URIBE, Defendant No. T-4-FR-2023-005051 DISMISSED by the Court for a Sanction in not producing all evidence / witness., 2023
- DISMISSED Case No. M-56-FR-2024-00099 State v. Yazzie Two counts Felony CHILD ABUSE DISMISSED, 2024
- DISMISSED Case No. T-4-DV-2024-000152 Battery on a Household Member, 2024
- DISMISSED Case No. M-51-VM-2023-00022, 2024
- DISMISSED FOR SELF DEFENSE After shooting a man for self defense Ms. Torraco got the case DISMISSED. Case No. D-202-CR-2022-02904, 2024
- DISMISSED State v Ronquillo; Charged with VEHICULAR HOMICIDE D-202-CR-2022-00041, a man was highly intoxicated and was in the middle of a very busy road, when his wife ran out to get her husband out of the road she was struck by a car driven by the defendant. There were no streetlights and it was very dark. Ms. Torraco and the defense Accident Reconstrution expert successfully got the charge DISMISSED as an unavoidable accident. Defendant plead to the traffic violation of "careless driving" and was put on an ankle bracelette for 30 days. "Great Bodily Harm by Vehicle", 2024
- DISMISSED after Motion hearing. State v. Perry T-4-2022-00806, 2022
- DISMISSED after Ms. Torraco negotiated with prosecutors that the prosecution was contrary to the interests of justice and that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction. T-4-DV-2022-001563, 2022
- NOT GUILTY Mr. Sanchez was found NOT GUILTY of FIRST DEGREE MURDER, the jury rendered a guilty as to the 3rd degree shoot VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER death of a man in Albuquerque. D-202-CR-2022-01538 State of New Mexico v. Sanchez, 2023
- DISMISSED MID-TRIAL During the bench trial, as Ms. Torraco was persenting the defense case, the prosecutor dismissed the case after the cross examination of the primary witness. T-4-DW-2022-001100 State of New Mexico vs. Miller, 2022
- State v. Espinoza; DISMISSED DURING TRIAL! In the course of trial during Ms. Torraco's cross examination of the lead detectrive, Ms. Torraco grilled the detective regarding critical evidence and got the officer to admit that he had hid exculpatory evidence and had never disclosed it to anyone. Under her rigerous cross-examination, the officer admitted that he did not think it was helpful to the state's case, so he did not give it to anyone. The Judge agreed with the defense when the defense insisted the case be DISMISSED! https://www.abqjournal.com/news/judge-tosses-murder-charge-on-second-day-of-trial/article_094a4982-449c-11ef-85dd-e727d23c64b9.html, 2024
- WON ON APPEAL State v. Gardner: criminal sexual penetration of a minor, Ms. Torraco got the case dismissed by filing a Motion to Suppress the traffic stop for search and seizure issues. D-818-CR-2017-00009 the case was taken on appeal and the New Mexico Court of Appeals AFFIRMED the dismssal., 2021
Videos
- Senators Lisa Torraco and Daniel Ivey Soto discuss civil Forfeiture in New Mexico., Senators Lisa Torraco and Daniel Ivey-Soto discussing Forfeiture in New Mexico, General Community, 2018
- Plea hearing in the RUST moving shooting to a misdemeanor for the failure to properly check a firearm. Charges of Involuntary manslaughter dismissed., 'Rust' safety coordinator David Halls enters 'no contest' plea, Entertainment, Celebrity, Movie, Law, Crime, 2023
- Interview on the popular newscast OUT FRONTWITH ERIN BURNETT interview of Ms. Torraco with Nick Watt Jan 23, 2023., CNN OUTFRONT WITH ERIN BURNETT / ALEC BALDWIN FINISHES PRODUCTION OF RUST 2023, Entertainment, Celebrity, Movie, Law, Crime, 1987
- Interview on the popular podcast Law and Crime regarding the Alec Baldwin case., Law and Crime Sidebar with Jesse Weber, Legal, Entertainment, Crime, Celebrity, 2024
- Ms. Torraco appears on the popular podcast Law and Crime Sidebar with Jesse Weber and discusses the prosecution of Alec Baldwin., Alec Baldwin Prosecutors Demand Convicted 'Rust' Armorer Testify in Actor’s Trial, Law, Legal, Crime, Entertainment, Celebrity, 2024
- The Law and Crime Network invited Ms. Torraco on the show for her expert opinion about a case from Clovis New Mexico. The woman who had shot a male intruder into her home was later charged with murder. Ms. Torraco gives some insight into NM law. , NM Woman shot Intruder; charged with MURDER, Legal, Entrtainment, Crime,, 2024
- Lisa Torraco joins local news station morning show, The Morning Brew to discuss Criminal Justice Reform and Criminal law the re-write., The Morning Brew: Lisa Torraco discusses Criminal Justice Reform in New Mexico, General Community, 2016
Representative Clients
- NOT GUILTY, State v, Ortega found not guilty of all charges at trial after having been accused of beating his girlfriend. Ms. Torraco on cross examination got the witness to admit to being about to contort her face to look his her face was swollen and beaten. The jury deliberated less than one hour after this 3 day trial. , 2018
- DISMISSED State v. Rock, defendant was charged with UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF A FIREARM, Ms. Torraco secured a DISMISSAL in this matter. T-4-CR-2022-001328 State of New Mexico vs. Rock, 2024
- HUNG JURY CLIENT FREED! State v. Sanchez; After a grueling week long trial, the Carlsbad jury could not reach a unanamous decision, the vote was 8 in favor of acquittal and 4 in favor of conviction. In this conservated and pro-conviction community this was a VICTORY! https://www.currentargus.com/.../murder.../71206588007/ , 2023
- Ms. Torraco obtained a complete DISMISSAL for a client who allegedly shot at a woman in a shopping center in Espanola, NM. https://www.riograndesun.com/news/case-dismissed-against-man-who-allegedly-shot-woman-at-center-market-in-2022/article_69a065e2-ec62-11ee-8bdc-9b5684d8edcd.html, 2022
- State v Todd Defendant found NOT GUILTY of Sexual abuse charges., 2023
- State v. Sandoval - Trafficking a Controlled Substance DISMISSED AFTER LITIGATION Client was facing 18 years mandatory for Trafficking a controlled substance, 2022
- DISMISSED State v. Gardner; defendant was charged with Criminal Sexual Penetration of a minor all charges DISMISSED. The police officer detained Mr. Gardner for hours in an attempt to coerce him into allowing the police to search his car. The Court agreed that this detention was unlawful and contrary to the New Mexico Consititution to be free of unreasonable search and seizures. State appealed the decision and the Court of Appeal UPHELD the dismissal., 2021
Transactions
- DISMISSED! On the Friday, before the Monday jury selection and commencement of this first degree murder trial, the state of New Mexico DISMISSED this case, after Ms. Torraco successfully convenienced the prosecutors that the police got the wrong guy! Case No. D-202-CR-2022-00712 Mr. Cuevas was enhonerated! , 2024
Pro bono / Community Service
- Volunteered in a Pro Bono effort by the New Mexico State Bar to assist people in obtaining their New Mexico "real identification" drivers license compliant., 2022
- New Mexico Licensed Foster parent, 1996
Educational Background
- The University of San Diego School of Law, 1990 – Certificate in Comparative International Law · Emphasis on comparative criminal law and international human rights., 1990
- University of New Mexico, B.A., Honors: cum laude, Major: Economics
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- An Essay on the Choices Women Make that Preclude Them from Higher Professional Levels, Published in the Cardozo’s Women’s Law Journal and Nationally recognized, as cited in BERKELEY J. GENDER, L., & JUST. 101 (2010)., author, CHESS CLUB IS NOT COOL, Cardozo’s Women’s Law Journal, 2005
- Guest Instructor - Training, Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office Training, 2006
- Guest Instructor - Prosecution Misconduct, District Attorney Conference - Prosecution Misconduct, 2006
- Judicial Education Center, Metropolitan and District Court Judges, 2006
- Be Nice! – and other basics of professionalism, IS a short article written to New Mexico practicing attorneys on the basics of professional behavior and respect., author, Be Nice! – and other Basics of Professionalism, Bar Bulletin (ISSN 1062-6611) Vol. 43, No. 19 May 13, 2004 at 6., 2004
- The Repeal of the Marital Rape Exemption. New Mexico Joins the 20th Century, 22 N.M. L. Rev. 551 (1992), is a review of the rape laws and more specifically the repeal of the New Mexico statue which permitted a man to rape his wife. This piece is nationally recognized; This work is cited in the Yale Law Journal, 109 (2000): 783. Also cited in the Stanford Law Review, 48 Stan. L. Rev. 677, (1996) Fordham Law Review, 23 Fordham Urb. L.J. 857 and locally by Justice Minzner in New Mexico Right to Choose/NARAL v. Johnson, 126 N.M. 788, 975 P.2d 841 (N.M. 1998)., Author, The Repeal of the Marital Rape Exemption. New Mexico Joins the 20th Century, 1992
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Elected to the New Mexico State Senate., 2013
- Served as Co-Chair, Criminal Justice Reform Committee; Member, Judiciary Committee to New Mexico State Senate., 2017
- Member, New Mexico State Senate, serving on the Judiciary Committee Co-Chair, New Mexico State Legislature subcommittee Courts, Crimes and Justice., 2016
- Co-Chair of the New Mexico Courts Crimes and Justice Subcommittees of the New Mexico State legislature, House and Senate Committee, 2015
- Served in the New Mexico State Senate, Judiciary Committee, 2014
- 1997 to 2007 Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of New Mexico - Criminal law D.A. clinical program, 2007
Honors
- Awarded the Governor's Award for Outstanding Women, By Bruce King, Governor - 1991, Outstanding New Mexico Women, 1991
- Recognized as a Lawyer of Distinction, awarded Best in Government by Common Cause
- New Prosecutor of the Year by the New Mexico Bar Association
- "Superb" rating on Avvo
Industry Groups
- Aggressive and Skilled Criminal Defense
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026
