Margaret Branch
Miss Triple Diamond
"Live life fully. Live it to the max."
Welcome.
This website is a living memoir — a place to preserve the memories, experiences, lessons, and stories that have shaped my life. My hope is that family, friends, and even people I may never meet can spend a little time here, learn about the journey, and perhaps leave inspired to embrace life with a little more curiosity, gratitude, and adventure.
Chapter I
Early Life
I grew up in an Army family, constantly moving from one place to another as my father served our country. Although our addresses changed often, the values my parents taught me never did.
They taught me kindness.
They taught me responsibility.
They taught me the importance of education.
Most importantly, they taught me that the direction of my life would always be my own responsibility.
"You are responsible for yourself. You're your own master. Make a life for yourself."
Those words became the foundation for everything I would later accomplish.
One of my earliest jobs was making history as the first female bagger at my local Safeway. It may seem like a small accomplishment today, but at the time it reminded me that barriers are often meant to be challenged.
Chapter II
Education & The Law
I attended the University of New Mexico before earning my law degree. I went on to found Branch Law Firm, where I've had the privilege of advocating for clients for decades.
During law school, I had the privilege of serving as President of the Student Body Association, an experience that taught me leadership, responsibility, and the importance of serving others.
Becoming a lawyer wasn't simply about practicing law.
It was about helping people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
"Most attorneys are passionate about the cases of their clients. We take those cases home with us. We worry about them long after we leave the office. People often think lawyers are greedy scavengers, but the truth is that most attorneys are people of integrity. They genuinely care about their clients, the situations they're facing, and they carry that responsibility with them."
That has always been my experience.
Chapter III
A Case I'll Never Forget
Throughout my career there have been countless cases that have stayed with me, but one in particular has never left my heart.
A young Native American girl suffered permanent injuries after meningitis was not diagnosed in time. She developed cerebral palsy and could no longer walk, talk, or feed herself.
I wrote directly to the Department of the Interior, explaining the negligence that had forever changed her life.
Within a week, we reached a one-million-dollar settlement.
That settlement allowed her to live in a home where she could receive the care she deserved alongside other children with similar disabilities.
She passed away several years later.
The remaining money was donated to that institution so it could continue helping other children.
Knowing her legacy continued through others is something I will never forget.
Chapter IV
Turner
Some of life's greatest stories begin when you least expect them.
I was twenty-one years old, working as a cocktail waitress at the officers' club, when I first met Turner.
He was celebrating his Marine service and was running for governor.
A law student who was trying to date me introduced us.
Nothing happened.
Life moved on.
Then, eleven years later, Turner called me.
That's when our story truly began.
Looking back, it's amazing how life sometimes takes years to reveal its plans. Had Turner called sooner, or had we met under different circumstances, perhaps our story would have unfolded differently. Instead, those eleven years gave each of us our own journey before our lives finally came together.
Looking back now, it's remarkable how a single phone call can change the course of an entire life.
Chapter V
My Favorite Memory
People often assume my favorite memories would involve courtroom victories or professional accomplishments.
They're wrong.
Without question, my favorite memories are our cruises together.
Walking around the ship.
Watching the ocean.
Feeling the peace that only being surrounded by water seems to bring.
After we settled New Mexico's tobacco litigation for approximately $1.4 billion, we celebrated with a cruise through Europe.
There's something about being at sea that strips away the noise of daily life. The rhythm of the waves against the hull, the endless horizon where sky meets water, the way time seems to slow down the moment you step on deck. Out there, there are no courtrooms, no deadlines, no phones ringing — just the salt air and the quiet company of the person beside you.
We'd walk for hours, sometimes saying everything, sometimes saying nothing at all. Those conversations — about life, about the past, about what came next — flowed differently on the water. Slower. Deeper. Unhurried. We weren't just celebrating what we'd accomplished. We were simply enjoying each other, the way you can only do when the rest of the world has been set aside.
Those quiet walks together remain some of the happiest moments of my life.
Chapter VI
Lady Luck
I've been fortunate enough to experience moments that very few gamblers ever will.
I've won jackpots of approximately $400,000 several times.
I've also won around $360,000 several times.
Winning those jackpots was exhilarating.
But they also taught me something important.
"You have to suffer through losses and be patient to get to the big jackpots."
Patience is often the greatest reward.
Chapter VII
Adventures
I've always believed that life should be experienced.
Whether it was traveling through Europe, cruising across the ocean, visiting Wimbledon, or simply enjoying time with family and friends, I tried to embrace every opportunity to create memories.
One unforgettable trip involved Wimbledon.
The tickets we purchased turned out to be fraudulent.
What followed felt like a movie.
Scotland Yard became involved. The people responsible were eventually located hiding on a rooftop. American Express stepped in, provided us with front-row seats, and transformed what began as a disappointment into one of our favorite travel stories.
Sometimes life's best stories begin with unexpected detours.
Chapter VIII
Family
My parents gave me values that shaped my life.
My father taught me the importance of hard work.
My mother taught me independence. She believed each of us must build our own life and take responsibility for our own future.
My Grandmother
My father's stepmother — my grandmother — was one of the most extraordinary women I've ever known. She grew up in a brothel. Her mother was the madam. It was the only world she knew as a child, and it would have been easy for that world to define her forever.
But she refused to let it. Through sheer determination and resilience, she completely reinvented herself. She built a new life, one built on her own terms. And along the way, she developed a deep and genuine appreciation for Native American culture and Indian art — a passion that became one of the defining threads of her life.
When I think about the distance between where she started and who she became, I'm still in awe. She didn't just escape her circumstances. She transcended them.
She taught me that your beginnings never have to define your future.
Those lessons — from my father, my mother, and my remarkable grandmother — stayed with me forever.
Chapter IX
Giving Back
Success means very little unless it improves someone else's life.
Throughout the years, Turner and I have been fortunate to support causes that are deeply meaningful to us.
$1.5 million toward the Baylor library
$1.5 million supporting the University of Miami football program
$500,000 toward the University of New Mexico Arts Center
The causes closest to my heart have always included the arts, homelessness, and helping individuals living with paralysis-related injuries.
Giving back has never felt like an obligation.
It has always been one of life's greatest privileges. If we're fortunate enough to succeed, I believe we also have a responsibility to help others create opportunities of their own.
Gallery
Moments in Time
Every photograph tells part of the story. Each image represents a chapter, a memory, a friendship, an accomplishment, or an adventure that helped shape my life.
As the years pass, these photographs become more than pictures. They become reminders of the people, places, and moments that mattered most.
YouTube
Slots & Stories
When I'm not in the courtroom or traveling, you'll often find me at the slot machines. I run a YouTube channel dedicated to my love of slots — sharing wins, near-misses, and the pure thrill of the game.
Check out the latest video above, and subscribe to follow along — because you never know when Lady Luck might show up.
Epilogue
Legacy
Life isn't measured only by awards, titles, verdicts, or accomplishments.
It's measured by the people we love.
The lives we improve.
The memories we create.
The kindness we show.
The adventures we embrace.
If this memoir encourages even one person to appreciate life a little more, travel a little farther, laugh a little louder, help someone in need, or chase a dream they thought impossible, then it has served its purpose.
Thank you for spending a little time with my story.
And remember —
Live life fully. Live it to the max.
Guestbook
Leave a Message
If something in these pages touched your heart or brought back a memory, I'd love to hear from you. Your name and email can be anonymous if you prefer — just leave a message.