Competency Proceedings in Juvenile Cases

Bridget McKenney, J.D., M.A. Psychology

Deputy District Attorney, Juvenile Division

Bridget McKenney received Bachelor’s in Psychology from University of Alaska Anchorage in 2005. She went to Valparaiso University to complete the Dual Degree Program in Law and Psychology. She graduated from Valparaiso University and the School of Law in 2010. She was admitted to the Bar in New Mexico in 2011 and admitted to the Bar in Tennessee in 2015.

She has been an attorney with the Office of the District Attorney, Second Judicial District in Bernalillo County since August of 2011 and have been a prosecutor in the Juvenile Division of the office since October 2012. Bridget attended the two week Schladale training on Best Practices to Stop Sexual Harm by Youth in 2014 and did a follow-up two day training in 2015.

Bridget sits on the Bernalillo County Multi-Disciplinary Team, which reviews child abuse case investigations. This team allows me to work with law enforcement, protective services, medical personnel, and forensic interviews. She is privileged to work on this team and gain insight into the investigations that occur, the role of each participating agency, and learn about the outcomes of these investigations. The MDT strives to ensure that the investigations are handled with dignity and respect toward victims and that all agencies are working together in a cooperative manner.

Bridget sits on the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court as the prosecution liaison and has been working with the program since August 2017. Being a part of this team allows her to see first-hand how juvenile addiction affects families and the community. She has gained insight into the problems with generational trauma and addiction that continue to plague youth, their families, and the overall community. This team also allows her to work with community programs that are aimed at recovery and treatment for juveniles dealing with substance abuse.

Bridget is fortunate to have a family that participated in foster care and adoption for almost 30 years. Her parents have adopted 11 children which has allowed her to experience CYFD’s abuse neglect side as a foster/adoptive sister to many children, including those with special needs. As such, Bridget has a unique view of the system which she brings with her to all of the work that she does as a prosecutor on delinquency cases. She was given a unique opportunity to watch children heal from trauma and was taught from a young age that children are not disposable and every individual regardless of circumstance deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

Continuing Legal Education Credits: 1.0 hours

NDAA has applied for CLE in Alabama, California, Illinois, Kansas, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, New York, Minnesota and New York.

Zoom will log each attendee’s “time in session” for the webinar. All attendees who sign into the webinar and complete the session will be sent a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, speaker biography, and a Uniform CLE Certificate from NDAA staff following the event.

Attendees must self-submit this course for approval in their home state. All attorneys are responsible for any fees associated with CLE filing. Attorneys seeking CLE credit should contact their state bar associations for more information.  General questions or additional information regarding CLE credit can be directed to Senior Coordinator, Mary Stechschulte at mstechschulte@ndaajustice.org.

Prosecutors (state and local, federal, military, and tribal), law enforcement personnel, paralegals with prosecutor’s offices and other members of the prosecution team.