New Mexico judicial elections, 2014

Overview
Total candidates:  | 348
Primary candidates:  | 239
General election candidates:  | 257
Incumbency
Incumbents:  | 184
Incumbent success rate:  | 94%
Competition - general election
Percent of candidates in contested races:  | 35%
Percent uncontested:  | 32%
Percent retention:  | 33%
Partisan victories
Republican  | 62
Democratic  | 79

2015 →

<- 2013

Judicial Elections
Judicial elections, 2014
Judicial election dates
Candidates by state
Supreme court elections

## Contents

* 1 Election dates
* 2 General election: Contested races
* 3 Retentions
* 3.1 Appellate courts
* 3.2 Trial courts
* 4 General election: Uncontested
* 4.1 Trial courts
* 5 Primary
* 6 Process
* 7 Ballot measure
* 7.1 Filing deadlines for retention elections
* 8 Noteworthy events
* 8.1 Two judges lose retention elections in New Mexico
* 8.2 Judge leaves New Mexico race
* 8.3 Judge sues over nomination practice
* 8.4 New Mexican magistrate post decided by coin toss
* 8.5 Appointed judges not always elected in New Mexico
* 8.6 Candidates debate qualifications in preparation for primary
* 8.7 Candidates file for Curry County race
* 8.8 Primary candidates filed in New Mexico
* 8.9 New Mexico Court of Appeals race
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
* 11 Footnotes

Last updated: November 2014

The 2014 New Mexico judicial elections consisted of partisan and retention elections. In 2014, 257 judicial candidates ran on general election day. Of those 257, 184 were incumbents. A total of 91 judges faced competition, and 80 were unopposed, guaranteed a new term.

In 2014, two judges in New Mexico were not retained to the district courts – judges Albert Mitchell and Sheri Raphaelson.

See: New Mexico elections summary, 2014.

### Election dates[edit]

* March 11: Filing deadline (primary)
* June 3: Primary
* June 24: Filing deadline (retention)
* November 4: General election[1][2][3]

In addition to candidate lists, this page includes information about how the state's judicial elections work, as well as articles about noteworthy news in races across the state.

## General election: Contested races[edit]

(I) denotes incumbent

New Mexico Court of Appeals, Seat 1

* J. Miles Hanisee (I), 50.9%A
* Kerry Kiernan, 49.1%A

2nd District Court, Division 14

* Marie Ward (I), 54.9%A
* Samuel L. Winder, 45.1%A

2nd District Court, Division 27

* Ned S. Fuller (I), 48.7%A
* Victor Lopez, 51.3%A

2nd District Court, Division 3

* Brett Loveless (I), 50.4%A
* M. David Chacon, 49.6%A

2nd District Court, Division 5

* James Baiamonte, 43.3%A
* Nancy Franchini (I), 56.7%A

2nd District Court, Division 8

* Cristina Jaramillo, 51.6%A
* Joshua David Boone, 48.4%A

2nd District Court, Division 9

* John T. Grubesic, 43.0%A
* Judith Nakamura (I), 57.1%A

7th District Court, Division 1

* Jerry Anthony Armijo, 45.5%A
* Mercedes Murphy (I), 54.5%A

13th District Court, Division 3

* Allen R. Smith (I), 51.2%A
* Joshua J. Sanchez, 48.8%A

13th District Court, Division 6

* Cindy M. Mercer, 52.3%A
* R. Lar Thomas, 47.7%A

13th District Court, Division 8

* Cheryl H. Johnston, 51.9%A
* Chris G. Perez, 48.1%A

Bernalillo Metropolitan Court, Division 13

* Carlos Scarborough, 48.6%A
* Michelle Castillo Dowler (I), 51.4%A

Bernalillo Metropolitan Court, Division 14

* Peggy Ann Holguin (I), 49.1%A
* Vidalia G. Chavez, 50.9%A

Bernalillo Metropolitan Court, Division 4

* Chris J. Schultz (I), 49.2%A
* Courtney Bryn Weaks, 50.8%A

Bernalillo Metropolitan Court, Division 8

* Jill M. Martinez, 50.8%A
* R. John Duran, II (I), 49.2%A

Catron County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Clayton T. Atwood (I), 69.5%A
* John A. Swenson, 30.5%A

Cibola County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Larry D. Diaz (I), 67.4%A
* Robert S. Windhorst, 32.6%A

Curry County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Duane K. Castleberry (I), 60.7%A
* Terry Martin, 39.3%A

Curry County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Mark E. Lansford, 69.3%A
* Michael R. Wells, 30.7%A

Dona Ana County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Nelson J. Goodin (I), 49.2%A
* Samantha Madrid, 50.8%A

Eddy County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Fred Joe Hill, 41.6%A
* Henry Castaneda (I), 58.4%A

Eddy County Magistrate Court, Division 2

* D'Ann Read, 60.4%A
* Dick A. Van Dyk (I), 39.6%A

Guadalupe County Magistrate Court, Seat 1

* Christopher A. Baca, 83.6%A
* Linda E. Ballard, 16.4%A

Harding County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Shawn C. Jeffrey (I), 44.6%A
* Stella Ebell-Devers, 55.4%A

Hidalgo County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Carmen Acosta, 69.8%A
* Sara Saenz, 30.2%A

Lea County Magistrate Court, Division 2

* Lemma White, 34.4%A
* Willie R. Henry (I), 65.6%A

Lea County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Sandra Kay Goad, 79.5%A
* Tonya R. Toomey, 20.5%A

Lincoln County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Mickie L. Vega (I), 76.8%A
* Tony Seno, 23.2%A

Los Alamos County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Blair M. Redmond, 42.2%A
* Pat A. Casados (I), 57.9%A

Luna County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Leeanna M. Rossi, 48.3%A
* Ray W. Baese (I), 51.7%A

San Juan County Magistrate Court, Division 2

* Matthew D. Tso, 33.0%A
* Rena Scott, 67.0%A

San Juan County Magistrate Court, Division 4

* Melvin Sam, 43.0%A
* Trudy M. Chase (I), 57.0%A

San Miguel County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Christian E. Montano, 72.8%A
* Edward Gallegos, 27.2%A

Sandoval County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Charles J. Aguilar (I), 48.0%A
* Lawrence D. McClain, 52.0%A

Sierra County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Alan J. Brown, 53.4%A
* Ronald D. Brown, 46.6%A

Sierra County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Pamela D. Smith, 61.5%A
* Virginia L. Jones, 38.5%A

Socorro County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Felix W. Saavedra, 53.6%A
* Richard J. Sanchez, 46.4%A

Socorro County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Darryl D. Cases, 57.2%A
* Richard T. Ritter, 42.9%A

Taos County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Michael A. Torrez, 24.4%A
* Paloma G. Roma, 75.6%A

Torrance County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* Gordon E. Bennett, 32.9%A
* Mateo Page, 67.1%A

Torrance County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Jim Summers (I), 61.9%A
* Viola Lueras Chavez, 38.1%A

Union County Magistrate Court, Division 1

* David A. Oliphant, 35.0%A
* Timothy F. Hodo (I), 65.0%A

Valencia County Magistrate Court, Division 2

* John R. Chavez (I), 54.0%A
* Phillip A. Romero, 46.1%A

Valencia County Probate Court, Seat 1

* Charles L. Kent, 47.8%A
* Jamie Guy Goldberg, 52.2%A

## Retentions[edit]

The following judges faced a retention election in order to keep their seat. In such elections, the incumbent judge is not being evaluated against an opponent. Rather, he or she simply receives votes of "yes" to retain or "no", do not retain.

### Appellate courts

Court| Judge| Votes

|
|

Click the arrows in the column headings to sort columns alphabetically.
New Mexico Court of Appeals| Cynthia Fry| 74.0%A
New Mexico Supreme Court| Edward Chavez| 73.2%A
New Mexico Court of Appeals| James Wechsler| 73.2%A
New Mexico Court of Appeals| Linda Vanzi| 72.9%A

### Trial courts

Court| Judge| Votes

|
|

Click the arrows in the column headings to sort columns alphabetically.
New Mexico Fourth Judicial District Court| Abigail Aragon| 75.2%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Alan Malott| 70.5%A
New Mexico Tenth Judicial District Court| Albert Mitchell| 49.97%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Alisa Hadfield| 73.2%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Beatrice Brickhouse| 72.1%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Benjamin Chavez| 71.8%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Briana H. Zamora| 72.7%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Carl Butkus| 71.9%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Charles Brown| 73.1%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Christina P. Argyres| 71.4%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Clay Campbell| 72.1%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Daniel E. Ramczyk| 73.0%A
New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Court| Daniel Viramontes| 74.1%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Darren Murray Kugler| 75.0%A
New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Court| David P. Reeb, Jr| 78.1%A
New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court| Daylene Marsh| 68.5%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Deborah Davis Walker| 73.6%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Denise Barela-Shepherd| 73.6%A
New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Court| Donna Mowrer| 80.4%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Douglas R. Driggers| 74.5%A
New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Court| Drew D. Tatum| 81.9%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Edward Benavidez| 71.5%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Elizabeth Whitefield| 74.4%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Fernando R. Macias| 74.5%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Frank A. Sedillo| 71.7%A
New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court| Freddie J. Romero| 75.6%A
New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court| Gary L. Clingman| 79.5%A
New Mexico Thirteenth Judicial District Court| George P. Eichwald| 72.2%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Gerard Lavelle| 72.1%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Henry A. Alaniz| 72.8%A
New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Court| Henry R. Quintero| 68.5%A
New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Court| J.C. Robinson| 74.2%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Jacqueline Flores| 71.2%A
New Mexico Thirteenth Judicial District Court| James L. Sanchez| 71.5%A
New Mexico Twelfth Judicial District Court| James Waylon Counts| 78.5%A
New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court| Jane Shuler Gray| 79.8%A
New Mexico Eighth Judicial District Court| Jeff F. McElroy| 81.5%A
New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Court| Jennifer Ellen DeLaney| 76.3%A
New Mexico Twelfth Judicial District Court| Jerry H. Ritter, Jr.| 81.7%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Jim T. Martin| 76.8%A
New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court| John A. Dean, Jr.| 70.5%A
New Mexico Thirteenth Judicial District Court| John F. Davis (New Mexico)| 71.2%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| John J. Romero, Jr.| 72.9%A
New Mexico Eighth Judicial District Court| John M. Paternoster| 77.9%A
New Mexico Twelfth Judicial District Court| Karen L. Parsons| 81.5%A
New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court| Karen L. Townsend| 73.5%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Kevin L. Fitzwater| 74.7%A
New Mexico Seventh Judicial District Court| Kevin R. Sweazea| 76.0%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Linda S. Rogers| 72.9%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Lisa C. Schultz| 67.3%A
New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court| Lisa Riley| 81.1%A
New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court| Louis E. DePauli, Jr.| 67.5%A
New Mexico Thirteenth Judicial District Court| Louis P. McDonald| 71.6%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Manuel I. Arrieta| 74.5%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Marci E. Beyer| 74.9%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Maria I. Dominguez| 72.6%A
New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court| Mark Sanchez| 76.2%A
New Mexico First Judicial District Court| Mary Marlowe Sommer| 80.8%A
New Mexico Third Judicial District Court| Mary W. Rosner| 73.7%A
New Mexico Seventh Judicial District Court| Matthew G. Reynolds| 72.9%A
Fourth District Juvenile Drug Court, New Mexico| Matthew Sandoval| 80.7%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Nan G. Nash| 72.7%A
New Mexico First Judicial District Court| Raymond Z. Ortiz| 80.3%A
New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court| Robert A. Aragon| 66.5%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Rosie Lazcano Allred| 72.3%A
New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court| Sandra A. Price| 73.6%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Sandra Engel| 73.8%A
New Mexico Eighth Judicial District Court| Sarah Backus| 79.9%A
New Mexico First Judicial District Court| Sarah M. Singleton| 80.0%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Shannon Bacon| 74.0%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Sharon D. Walton| 70.6%A
New Mexico First Judicial District Court| Sheri Raphaelson| 55.87%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Stan Whitaker| 74.4%A
New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Court| Stephen K. Quinn| 82.9%A
New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court| Steven L. Bell| 81.3%A
New Mexico First Judicial District Court| T. Glenn Ellington| 82.0%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| Valerie A. Huling| 73.8%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Victor E. Valdez| 71.7%A
New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court| William G.W. Shoobridge| 78.1%A
New Mexico Second Judicial District Court| William Parnall| 73.0%A
New Mexico Bernalillo Metropolitan Courts| Yvette K. Gonzalez| 71.9%A

## General election: Uncontested[edit]

The following candidates were elected or re-elected after running unopposed in the general election.

### Trial courts

Court| Candidate

|

Click the arrows in the column headings to sort columns alphabetically.
Guadalupe County Probate Court| Adam J. Gallegos
Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court| Alexandra C. Naranjo
Twelfth Judicial District Court| Angie Schneider
McKinley County Magistrate Court| April J. Silversmith
San Juan County Magistrate Court| Barry D. Sharer
Dona Ana County Magistrate Court| Beverly Singleman
Sandoval County Magistrate Court| Bill M. Mast
De Baca County Magistrate Court| Buddy J. Hall
McKinley County Probate Court| Charley Long
San Miguel County Probate Court| Charlynne Otero
Otero County Probate Court| Christine Ann Tenski
Los Alamos County Probate Court| Christine Chandler
San Juan County Magistrate Court| Connie Lee Johnston
Dona Ana County Magistrate Court| Conrad F. Perea
Cibola County Probate Court| Corrine C. Padilla
Lea County Magistrate Court| Craig La Bree
McKinley County Magistrate Court| Cynthia C. Sanders
Eddy County Magistrate Court| Daniel Reyes, Jr.
Lea County Magistrate Court| David E. Finger
Quay County Magistrate Court| David Joel Garnett
Santa Fe County Magistrate Court| David Segura
First Judicial District Court| David Thomson
Luna County Probate Court| Delia L. Perez
Sandoval County Magistrate Court| Delilah M. Montano-Baca
Dona Ana County Probate Court| Diana A. Bustamante
Santa Fe County Magistrate Court| Donita Sena
Santa Fe County Magistrate Court| Donna M. Bevacqua-Young
Mora County Probate Court| Edward Aragon
Chaves County Probate Court| Eric J. Coll
Taos County Magistrate Court| Ernest L. Ortega
Colfax County Magistrate Court| Felix Pena
First Judicial District| Francis Joseph Mathew
Ninth Judicial District Court| Fred Van Soelen
Otero County Magistrate Court| Gene C. Galassini
Santa Fe County Magistrate Court| George Anaya, Jr.
Fourth Judicial District Court| Gerald Baca
Grant County Magistrate Court| Hector C. Grijalva
Lea County Magistrate Court| James D. Brown
San Juan County Magistrate Court| James G. Mosberger
Fifth Judicial District Court| James Hudson
Otero County Magistrate Court| James Scott Newton
Taos County Magistrate Court| Jeff Shannon
Chaves County Magistrate Court| John J. Halvorson
Mora County Magistrate Court| John L. Sanchez
Eddy County Probate Court| John M. Caraway
De Baca County Probate Court| John P. Wootton
Valencia County Magistrate Court| John W. Sanchez
Cibola County Magistrate Court| Johnny Valdez
Dona Ana County Magistrate Court| Jose L. Cano
Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court| Joseph Madrid
Harding County Magistrate Court| Karen P. Mitchell
Lincoln County Magistrate Court| Katie Gene Lund
5th District Court| Kea Riggs
Chaves County Magistrate Court| Keith Rogers
McKinley County Magistrate Court| Kenneth Howard, Jr.
Bernalillo Metropolitan Court| Kenny C. Montoya
Dona Ana County Magistrate Court| Kent L. Wingenroth
San Juan County Probate Court| Larry T. Thrower
Fifth Judicial District Court| Lee A. Kirksey
Union County Probate Court| Leslie J. Taylor
Roosevelt County Magistrate Court| Linda J. Short
Hidalgo County Magistrate Court| Mark D. Thomas (New Mexico)
San Juan County Magistrate Court| Mark Hawkinson
First Judicial District Court| Matthew Justin Wilson
Grant County Magistrate Court| Maurine L. Laney
Rio Arriba County Probate Court| Max M. Quintana
San Miguel County Magistrate Court| Melanie Y. Rivera
Quay County Probate Court| Nelda Burson
Dona Ana County Magistrate Court| Norman E. Osborne
Thirteenth Judicial District Court| Randolph Marshall Collins
Fifth Judicial District Court| Raymond Romero
Curry County Magistrate Court| Richard L. Hollis Jr.
Sandoval County Magistrate Court| Richard L. Zanotti
Dona Ana County Magistrate Court| Richard M. Jacquez
Bernalillo Metropolitan Court| Rosemary Cosgrove-Aguilar
Colfax County Probate Court| Roy E. Ackerman
Santa Fe County Probate Court| Shannon Broderick Bulman
First Judicial District| Sylvia LaMar
Valencia County Magistrate Court| Tina R. Gallegos
Grant County Probate Court| Velia Miranda
Colfax County Magistrate Court| Warren G. Walton
Bernalillo County Probate Court| Willow Misty Parks

## Primary[edit]

For candidate lists and results from the judicial primary on June 3, 2014, please see: New Mexico judicial primary elections, 2014.

## Process[edit]

Judges in New Mexico are elected in either retention elections or partisan elections. A judge who was appointed to a vacancy must run in a partisan election in the next general election. The winner, then an incumbent judge, runs in retention elections after that.[4]

In the retention elections, judges do not compete against another candidate, but voters are given a "yes" or "no" choice whether to keep the judge in office for another term. The retention elections are held on general election day. In a retention election, a candidate must receive 57 percent of the vote to be retained.[5]

## Ballot measure[edit]

### Filing deadlines for retention elections[edit]

New Mexico's judicial ballot measure made a procedural change to the filing deadline for retention elections. The New Mexico Candidacy Declarations in Judicial Retention Elections Amendment allowed the legislature to set the filing deadline for retention elections. As of 2014, that deadline was the same the primary filing deadline, per Article VI, Section 34 of the New Mexico Constitution.[6] This measure passed.[7]

The New Mexico House of Representatives and New Mexico Senate both unanimously approved this measure, passing it in order to get it on the ballot.[8]

It is not uncommon for states with judicial retention elections in the general election to have a different filing deadline for incumbent judges. Below is a table of the six states which have retention elections at all levels of the court system. According to the data from Ballotpedia, as of 2014, half of those states have the same filing deadlines, while half have later deadlines for judicial candidates.

State | 2014 filing - Legislative candidates | 2014 filing - Judicial candidates

|
|

Alaska | June 2 | August 1
Colorado | March 31 | August 4
Iowa | March 14 | July 23
Nebraska | February 18/March 3 | February 18
Utah | March 20 | March 20
Wyoming | May 30 | May 30

## Noteworthy events[edit]

The following articles were current as of the dates listed.

### Two judges lose retention elections in New Mexico

November 13, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: 2014 retention report

In New Mexico, judges must receive at least 57 percent of the vote in order to be retained.

See: New Mexico judicial elections

In 2014, 86 judges in New Mexico ran for retention. Two district court judges were not retained and must step down at the conclusion of their current terms. These two judges are Albert Mitchell of the 10th District Court and Sheri Raphaelson of the 1st District Court.

Judge Sheri Raphaelson

Judge Albert Mitchell, who was elected to the court in 2008, received a vote of 49.95 percent in favor of his retention. A group called the Committee for Law and Order campaigned against his retention, claiming that he had been too lenient on criminals and took too long to make decisions in certain cases.[9]Mitchell had been recommended for retention by the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission.[10]

Judge Sheri Raphaelson was appointed to the court by Governor Bill Richardson in 2009. She received 55.98 percent of the votes in her favor. The New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission had recommended that she not be retained.[11][12]

### Judge leaves New Mexico race

September 11, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: Party switches and the soaring cost of campaigning

Judge Camille Martinez Olguin

Judge Camille E. Olguin, of New Mexico’s Thirteenth Judicial District, decided to retire instead of running for retention in 2014.

Olguin informed the Secretary of State’s office, removing herself from the ballot. The opening will be filled by election on November 4. The Democratic Party nominated Randolph “Randy” Collins to run for Olguin’s seat. The Republican Party appeared to have missed the nomination window, making it likely that Collins would run unopposed.[13][14][15]

New Mexico’s 13th Judicial District

Collins, regarding his nomination, state:

| “  | I am honored to have been selected by the Democratic Party for this important position. I am thankful to have been serving as Chief Judge for the Pueblo of Acoma and prior to that, as deputy District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District in Cibola County.[16][17] | ”

|
|

The 13th Judicial District covers the counties of Cibola, Sandoval and Valencia.

### Judge sues over nomination practice

August 14, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: Lawsuits about elections and continuing controversies

A recently appointed Democratic judge has challenged her party's decision to nominate someone else to run for her seat in November.[18]

District Judge Gina Manfredi, who had been an assistant city attorney in Rio Rancho and was appointed to a newly created seat on the 13th Judicial District Court by Republican Governor Susana Martinez in July, has filed suit in the 1st District Court in Santa Fe in an effort to overturn the Democratic Party State Central Committee's decision to place Bernalillo lawyer Christopher Perez in the race instead.[18]

Manfredi expressed concerns about a conflict between the state's merit-based appointment of judges utilizing recommendations by a voter-approved nominating commission and a statute that allows political parties to select candidates for open judgeships when an appointment is made after the deadline for filing for the primary race. In this case, the seat on the Thirteenth Judicial District Court was created by the New Mexico legislature earlier in the year, but the position was not ready to be filled until after the filing deadline for the judicial primary. Manfredi's complaint, presented to the New Mexico First Judicial District Court, states that this "conflict...further politicizes the judicial selection process, dilutes the New Mexico Constitution, and shifts the focus of the judicial nomination from merit to political support garnered at the state central committee meeting."[19] Manfredi was screened by the bi-partisan nominating committee and recommended for potential appointment to the bench by Governor Martinez. It was then Governor Martinez's decision to appoint Manfredi to the bench.

Democratic Party Chairman Sam Bregman, an Albuquerque lawyer, said that the earlier Supreme Court decision affirmed the party's authority to nominate Perez instead of Manfredi.[19]

If Manfredi's challenge is rejected, she will serve out the remainder of this year's term before stepping down in favor of the winner of the November election. Republicans have nominated Cheryl Johnston as their candidate for the judgeship.[18]

### New Mexican magistrate post decided by coin toss

July 17, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: Big money in supreme court elections; local race decided by coin toss

Over a month after the June 3 primary election, the magistrate judge for Division 2 of the McKinley County Magistrate Court was determined by the flip of a coin. Kenneth Howard, Jr., who got to make the call, was the winner.[20]

Kenneth Howard, Jr., Robert B. Baca, and Kimberlaine Willoughby ran against each other in the Democratic primary election. When it was too close to declare a winner between Howard and Baca, a recount was conducted. It was concluded that they had tied, with 2,879 votes each. In the situation of a tie, state law calls for a coin toss, which took place in a courthouse in Gallup, New Mexico, on July 8. The coin toss was conducted by an official of the Democratic Party. Since no Republicans ran for the position, Howard will be the next magistrate.[20]

There have been two other tied elections decided by a coin toss in New Mexico since 1980. They were both races for the state legislature.[21]

Earlier this year, a justice of the peace in Texas was also decided by a coin toss. If you missed that story, you can check it out in the Election Brief from June 19.

### Appointed judges not always elected in New Mexico

June 5, 2014| Click for story→

|

Voters went to the polls June 3 for New Mexico's primary election. There were partisan races on the ballot for the district courts, magistrate courts and probate courts. Below are the details on the contested primary races for district court seats.

In the First Judicial District Court, three candidates competed for the Division 6 judgeship. All were Democrats. Matthew Justin Wilson, who was appointed to the position by Governor Susana Martinez in October of 2013, was defeated after receiving 32.8 percent of the vote. The winner, David Thomson, briefly served on the court in 2010. He was appointed in March 2010, but lost the election later that year. This time he'll serve a full six-year term. He received 35.9 percent of the vote. Yvonne Kathleen Quintana came in third with 31.8 percent.

The Second Judicial District Court also had a Democratic primary race. Vying for Division 14 were Marie Ward, Sandy Barnhart Chavez and Harold O. Atencio. Governor Susana Martinez appointed Ward to the position in March of this year. With 41.5 percent of the vote, she won the primary, defeating Chavez who received 40.1 percent of the vote. Harold O. Atencio received 18.5 percent. Ward faces Republican candidate Samuel L. Winder in the general election.

In the Fourth Judicial District, incumbent Gerald Baca faced two opponents in the Democratic primary for the Division 14 seat. Baca, who was appointed just over a year ago, won with 55.3 percent of the vote. Anna M. Aragon received 36.6 percent. Suzanne Gaulin received with 8.2 percent. Baca will run unopposed in November.

The Thirteenth Judicial District Court was the only district with a contested Republican primary. Republican candidate Allen R. Smith, who was appointed to the Division 3 seat on the court in April, defeated his opponent, Paul E. Trujillo, 63.4 percent to 36.6 percent. Joshua J. Sanchez and Walter M. Hart ran in the Democratic primary. Sanchez won with 63.4 percent of vote.[22]

### Candidates debate qualifications in preparation for primary

April 3, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: Who's qualified? Courts, candidates and special interest groups all want a say

Judges of the magistrate courts in New Mexico do not need to be licensed to practice law unless the population of their district is over 200,000.[23] Taos County's 2013 population is estimated to be 33,035, according to the United States Census Bureau.[24] Chief judge, Ernest L. Ortega, the Division 1 judge for the Taos County Magistrate Court does not have a law degree. Ortega was appointed in early 2006 by former Governor Bill Richardson and elected to the position later that year. He was re-elected in 2010, after running unopposed. This year, Ortega will have an opponent in the Democratic primary on June 3, Bob G. Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald's campaign has emphasized how he believes his law degree and legal experience make him better suited to the position. Fitzgearald told The Taos News that Ortega has been asked to excuse himself from cases because local lawyers lack confidence in him. Ortega only said he "get[s] excused sometimes by defense attorneys who think I’m too strict on certain types of cases".[25] He also says he is generally happy with how quickly he gets through cases, but that "[i]f they want a lawyer, voters will elect one."[25] Ortega and Fitzgerald are both Democrats. No Republican candidates filed for the race.

### Candidates file for Curry County race

March 20, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: Controversy around judicial election laws

In Curry County, New Mexico, the current probate court judge, Kevin D. Duncan, is not running for another term. Four Republican candidates and one Democratic candidate have filed for that race.[26]

| Curry County Probate Court candidates | Party

|

Mark E. Lansford | Republican
Randy L. Rodriguez | Republican
Joseph C. Champouillon | Republican
Holly K. Glenn | Republican
Charles Benny Adams | Democratic

### Primary candidates filed in New Mexico

March 13, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: Close races, scandal and removal from the ballot

Major party candidates have filed to run in the New Mexico primary election on June 3.

Many district judges who were appointed in the past couple of years will be on the ballot seeking to serve a full term. For example, in the First District Court, three such judges are seeking election.

Francis Joseph Mathew, who holds the Division 1 position, was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez in January 2013. He took the seat of Judge Barbara J. Vigil after she was appointed to the New Mexico Supreme Court in 2012. Mathew is running as a Democrat. He'll be unopposed in the primary, and no Republicans filed to face him in the general election. He is a University of Notre Dame alumni, and previously ran his own private practice.

Sylvia LaMar has been the Division 4 judge since November 2012, when she was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Michael Eugene Vigil. She is also running unopposed in the primary, with no Republican opponent for the general.

Gov. Susana Martinez recently appointed Matthew Justin Wilson to the Division 6 position in October 2013. He is a former domestic relations hearing officer for the First Judicial District, and will be running for a full term as a district judge. He has two other Democratic opponents in the June 3rd primary – David Thomson and Yvonne Kathleen Quintana. Thomson is previous judge for the First District Court. He was appointed in March 2010, but was defeated by T. Glenn Ellington in the primary later that year. Quintana ran for the Division 5 position of the same court in 2010. She lost to incumbent Sheri Raphaelson in the Democratic primary.[27] With no Republican competition, the Democratic primary will decide the winner.

### New Mexico Court of Appeals race

February 20, 2014| Click for story→

|

See also: JP Election Brief: Wisconsin primary concludes as the rest of the nation is just heating up

The New Mexico Court of Appeals this November will feature to candidates. This the intermediate appellate court of New Mexico. There are ten judges on the court.

Judge J. Miles Hanisee was appointed to the court by Governor Susana Martinez in July 2011, and then ran unsuccessfully for a full term in the 2012 election. Martinez appointed him again in December 2012 after the retirement of Judge Celia Castillo. He is running again for a full term on the court this year, and will be unopposed in the Republican primary.

On his campaign website, Hanisee says:

| “  | Experience is the single most important qualification for any appellate judge. My twenty-year career as a lawyer, and now judge, in New Mexico demonstrates a diversity of practice that has included service as a federal prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, civil practitioner, appellate lawyer and federal appellate law clerk.[28][17] | ”

|
|

New Mexico lawyer Kerry Kiernan will challenge Hanisee for the judgeship. He is running as a Democrat, also unopposed in the primary. He says:

“  | My experiences have fueled my commitment to upholding the law, protecting the most vulnerable in their time of need and defending the constitutional rights of all New Mexicans. Most importantly, I understand that Judges must decide cases based on their merits - not special interests.[29][17] | ”

|
|

## See also[edit]

* New Mexico judicial elections
* Judicial selection in New Mexico

## External links[edit]

* New Mexico Secretary of State, "Elections Data"

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Politics1, "New Mexico"
2. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election Candidate Guide for Major Party Candidates"
3. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Forms - 2014 Election Calendar"
4. ↑ American Judicature Society, "Judicial Selection in the States: New Mexico," archived January 11, 2014
5. ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes, Article VI, Section 33," accessed April 25, 2014
6. ↑ New Mexico Legislature, "Brief Analysis of Proposed Constitutional Amendment 3," accessed August 7, 2014
7. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "General Election Results 2014"
8. ↑ New Mexico Candidacy Declarations in Judicial Retention Elections Amendment (2014)
9. ↑ Quay County Sun, "Committee seeks to remove Mitchell from district bench," October 21, 2014
10. ↑ New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation, "Final Recommendation: Albert J. Mitchell, Jr."
11. ↑ New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation, "Final Recommendation: Sheri A. Raphaelson"
12. ↑ Santa Fe New Mexican, "Voters remove Judge Sheri Raphaelson," November 5, 2014
13. ↑ Albuquerque Journal, “Judge drops out of election, affecting Rio Rancho ballots,” September 10, 2014
14. ↑ Rio Rancho Observer, “Judge drops out of election, affecting Rio Rancho ballots,” September 10, 2014
15. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, “2014 General Election Contest/Candidate List,” accessed September 11, 2014
16. ↑ Cibola Beacon, “Judge Olguin Not Seeking Retention,” September 9, 2014
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Albuquerque Journal, "Judge sues over nomination practice," August 6, 2014
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Daily Journal, "Newly appointed judge files lawsuit seeking to appear on general-election ballot," August 5, 2014
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 US News, "Heads up: New Mexico county magistrate wins election by the flip of a coin," July 10, 2014
21. ↑ Washington Post, "In most states, tied elections can be decided by a coin toss," July 14, 2014
22. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Unofficial Results, Primary Election 2014," June 4, 2014
23. ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: New Mexico," archived October 6, 2014
24. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Quickfacts Taos County, New Mexico," accessed April 2, 2014
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 The Taos News, "Lawyer challenges Taos judge on legal training," March 25, 2014
26. ↑ Clovis News Journal, "Curry County candidate filings for June 3 primary," March 11, 2014
27. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List"
28. ↑ Miles Hanisee campaign website
29. ↑ Campaign website

v • e

Judicial elections, 2014

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

New Mexico courts

* * *

Federal courts:

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Mexico • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Mexico

State courts:

New Mexico Supreme Court • New Mexico Court of Appeals • New Mexico District Courts • New Mexico Magistrate Court • New Mexico Municipal Courts • New Mexico Probate Courts • New Mexico Problem-Solving Courts • New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration Court • Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court

State resources:

Courts in New Mexico • New Mexico judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Mexico