Armando Ramirez sat comfortably behind his desk. It was an impressive piece of furniture with its strength and size of body (it must have been 8 feet wide), its intricate carved legs, and the beauty of its matched woodgrain.
As a rule I don't like desks. They're vehicles of domination. They divide people, putting power all on one side. But this was somehow different. Here was what could have been a big chunk of intimidating wood, but which instead dramatized the majesty and intricacy of the law, serving as an effective background for a legal practitioner.
Armando, the notario, was a handsome man with just enough gray in his hair to make him look distinguished. He was casually dressed, but a judge's robes would not have seemed out of place on him. Behind him were bookshelves full of legal tomes.
I was buying some land from a Mexican owner--I'll call him Bernardo. As a real estate broker, I'd gone through hundreds of closings, so this was nothing new for me. Bernardo, however, was nervous. Perhaps this was his first transaction. He sat straight up on the edge of his chair and fidgeted.
Armando came around from behind his desk, put his hand on Bernardo's shoulder and rubbed it. I could see some of the tension go out of him. Then Armando picked up his remote control, aimed it at the stereo system behind us, and one of my favorite pieces, a Bach prelude and fugue, filled the room. Bernardo sat farther back in his chair and relaxed.
The drama of the event impressed me. Staged against a backdrop of judicial power symbols, it was further orchestrated by Armando (and Bach) through body language and music.
Our transaction was soon completed. As he escorted us out the door, Armando again rubbed Bernardo's shoulders. I was struck by the paradoxical nature of the man. He was big and imposing with his desk, yet small and humble with his hands.
Armando is a notario, a lawyer with special responsibilities, something like a judge in the U.S. In Mexico all real estate transactions must be closed by a notario. Armando, who comes from Hermosillo, has been practicing law in Puerto Peñasco only a few months. He told me that because it has until recently been just a small village, many residents have been used to doing things without using the proper legal procedures. Now he is here to help develop those procedures and to instruct citizens in their use. He wants to make sure that Mexicans and Americans alike get valid legal title to their properties. He's also interested in developing new ways to simplify the process.
As I talked with Armando, I became aware of his immense love and respect for the law. He spoke of it as one might a strict but beloved father. He sees the law, not as an instrument to restrict and limit, but as a vehicle to open up possibilities. I left his office feeling that Puerto Peñasco was safe in the gentle hands of Armando Ramirez.
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