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Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Second Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at the New Mexico State Bar located at 5121 Masthead Street N.E., in their conference rooms, with no mask or social distancing requirement. Of course, any individual may elect to wear a mask. The Committee meeting is open to the public, and members of the public who wish to be heard about any of the candidates will have an opportunity to be heard.
The New Mexico Supreme Court’s Equity and Justice Commission’s subcommittee on judicial nominations has proposed changes to the Rules Governing New Mexico Judicial Nominating Commissions. These proposed changes will be discussed and voted on during the upcoming meeting of the Second Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission. Please email Beverly Akin (akin@law.unm.edu) if you would like to request a copy of the proposed changes.
The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judicial Nominating Commission convened on Monday, May 23, 2022, at the Metropolitan Courthouse, located at 401 Lomas NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and completed its evaluation of the six candidates for the one vacancy on the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court due to the retirement of the Honorable Judge Victor E. Valdez effective May 31, 2022.
The Commission recommends the following candidates to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham:
Steven Gary Diamond
Asra Imtiaz Elliott
Veronica Lee Hill
Claire Ann McDaniel
Six (6) applications have been received in the Judicial Selection Office as of 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, 2022, for the vacancy on the Thirteenth Judicial District Court which will exist as of July 1, 2022, due to the creation of an additional Judgeship by the Legislature. The Thirteenth Judicial District Court Nominating Commission will convene beginning at 9:00 a.m. Friday, June 10, 2022, to interview applicants for the position at the Thirteenth Judicial District Court located at 1500 Idalia Rd, Bernalillo, NM 87004.
The names of the applicants in alphabetical order:
1. Steven Paul Archibeque
2. Michael Eshleman
3. Sonya Kay Duke-Noel
4. Karl William Reifsteck
5. Simone M. Seiler
6. Matthew Wadsworth
All attendees of the meeting of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission will be required to wear a face mask at all times while at the meeting regardless of their vaccination status.
A vacancy on the Thirteenth Judicial District Court will exist in exist as of July 1, 2022, due to the creation of an additional judgeship by the Legislature. Inquiries regarding the details or assignment of this judicial vacancy should be directed to the Administrator of the Court. Applicants seeking information regarding election or retention if appointed should contact the Bureau of Elections in the Office of the Secretary of State.
Sergio Pareja, Chair of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission, invites applications for this position from lawyers who meet the statutory qualifications in Article VI, Section 28 of the New Mexico Constitution. Applications may be obtained from the Judicial Selection website: https://lawschool.unm.edu/judsel/application.html, or emailed to you by contacting the Judicial Selection Office at akin@law.unm.edu. The deadline for applications has been set for Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Applications received after that time will not be considered.
The Thirteenth Judicial District Court Nominating Commission will meet beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 10, 2022, to interview applicants for the position at the Thirteenth Judicial District Court - Sandoval located at 1500 Idalia Rd, Bernalillo, NM 87004, to evaluate the applicants for this position. The Commission meeting is open to the public, and members of the public who wish to be heard about any of the candidates will have an opportunity to be heard.
Thirteenth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission Proposed Changes to the Rules Governing Judicial Nominating Commissions
The New Mexico Supreme Court’s Equity and Justice Commission’s subcommittee on judicial nominations has proposed changes to the Rules Governing New Mexico Judicial Nominating Commissions. These proposed changes, will be discussed and voted on during the upcoming meeting of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission. The Commission meeting is open to the public beginning at 9:00 a.m. MST on Friday, June 10, 2022, at the Thirteenth Judicial District Court – Sandoval, located at 1500 Idalia Rd, Bernalillo, NM 87004. Please email Beverly Akin (akin@law.unm.edu) if you would like to request a copy of the proposed changes. All attendees of the meeting of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court Judicial Nominating Commission will be required to wear a face mask at all times while at the meeting regardless of their vaccination status.
The Supreme Court of New Mexico has established the New Mexico Supreme Court Commission on Mental Health and Competency. The Commission's mission is to improve access to the justice system and treatment services based on an individual's mental health status. The commission will be charged with developing recommendations about the following:
The commission will consist of seventeen (17) voting members as follows: two (2) judges from larger urban jurisdictions; one (1) judge from a medium-sized jurisdiction; two (2) judges from smaller rural jurisdictions; one (1) behavioral health advocate; one (1) community member with life experience pertinent to issues surrounding mental health; one (1) supportive housing advocate; one (1) tribal member, preferably one that works for Indian Health Services, a tribal behavioral health provider, or otherwise within a behavioral health system; one (1) prosecutor with experience working with the courts regarding behavioral health; one (1) criminal defense attorney with experience working with the courts regarding behavioral health; one (1) attorney with significant experience in mental health or disability law; one (1) legislative member; one (1) member of local law enforcement; one (1) designee from the executive branch; and two (2) at-large members.
Persons interested in serving on the Commission may apply by sending a letter of interest to Elizabeth A. Garcia, Clerk of Court, by email to nmsupremecourtclerk@nmcourts.gov or by first class mail to P.O. Box 848, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Applicants should limit their letters to two pages, indicate which position they are seeking, and describe (1) why they wish to serve on the commission, (2) what they bring to the commission, and (3) their professional experience with mental health and competency issues. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 27, 2022.
Members of the public may enter a New Mexico courthouse or judicial building without a mask or protective face covering starting March 21. However, masks will continue to be required for any person inside a courtroom or jury assembly area.
In recognition of changes in the COVID-19 pandemic, the state Supreme Court today announced updated public health precautionary procedures and practices for New Mexico courts - appellate, district, metropolitan, magistrate, municipal and probate courts.
"While we hope that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, it remains crucial that New Mexico courts continue to take prudent steps to protect the health and well-being of jurors, litigants, attorneys, judicial employees, judges and all others entering a courthouse," Chief Justice Michael Vigil said.
The following COVID-safe protocols will take effect March 21:
"The reduced physical distancing should help courts conduct additional trials by allowing them to more efficiently use available space in courtrooms and jury assembly areas," said Justice C. Shannon Bacon, who leads the Supreme Court's Emergency Response Team that developed the revised protocols.
Court employees, judges and hearing officers must continue to wear masks while interacting with the public and in courtrooms or jury assembly areas, but otherwise they no longer must wear a protective face covering inside their work areas.
The Judiciary will maintain a requirement for weekly COVID-19 testing of unvaccinated judicial employees, judges and contractors.
"Because jurors and many members of the public have no choice but to come to court, the Judiciary will remain vigilant and take a careful approach to adjusting its COVID-safe protocols as the pandemic changes," Chief Justice Vigil said.
Until the new protocols take effect on March 21, masks will continue to be required for anyone entering a New Mexico courthouse or judicial building.
Read Amendments Here