New Mexico judicial elections, 2012
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| Judicial Elections |
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| Judicial elections, 2012 |
| Judicial election dates |
The New Mexico judicial elections consisted of a primary election on June 5th and a general election on November 6th.[1]
New Mexico judicial elections summary, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Supreme Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Barbara J. Vigil  | No | 54.81% | ||
| Paul Kennedy (New Mexico) | No | 45.19%  | ||
| Richard Bosson | Yes | 75.31% |
Court of Appeals
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Vigil | Yes | 73.48% | ||
| Roderick Kennedy | Yes | 76.42% | ||
| Victor S. Lopez | No | 34% |
District Courts
Second Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alisa Hadfield | Yes | Division 21 | 100% | 57.08% |
| Benjamin Chavez | No | Division 19 | 100% | 57.76% |
| Briana H. Zamora | No | 100% | 57.5% | |
| David A. Standridge | No | Division 21 | 69% | 42.92% |
| Samuel L. Winder | Yes | Division 19 | 100% | 42.24% |
| Sanford H. Siegel | No | Division 21 | 31% |
Third Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Murray Kugler | No | Division 3 | 100% | 55.06% |
| Jacinto Palomino | Yes | Division 4 | 100% | 44.44% |
Fifth Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lea Williams | No | Division 9 | 25.6% | |
| Lisa Riley | Yes | Division 9 | 74.4% | 100% |
Sixth Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthia J. Patterson | No | Division 2 | 43.3% | |
| Jarod K. Hofacket | No | Division 2 | 56.7% | 44.22% |
| Jennifer Ellen DeLaney | No | Division 2 | 62.4% | 55.78% |
| Michael R. Renteria | No | Division 2 | 37.6% |
Eighth Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernestina R. Cruz | No | Division 2 | 45.5% | |
| Floyd W. Lopez | No | Division 3 | 29.6% | |
| Helen L. Lopez | No | Division 3 | 28.1% | |
| Sarah Backus | Yes | Division 2 | 54.5% | 100% |
Ninth Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donna Mowrer | Yes | Division 4 | 100% | 100% |
Eleventh Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylene Marsh | Yes | Division 6 | n/a | 53.22% |
| Emet Rudolfo | No | Division 6 | n/a | 46.78% |
Thirteenth Judicial District Court
| Candidate | Incumbency | Division | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James L. Sanchez | Yes | Division 1 | 51.07% | |
| LaDonna L. Giron | No | Division 1 | 100% | 48.93% |
Ballot measure
Certified
The New Mexico Judicial Standards Amendment, Constitutional Amendment 1 (2012) was a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment that appeared on the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot in New Mexico. The measure was approved.
The measure added two more members, a municipal judge and a member of the public, to the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission.[2]
The language on the ballot read as follows:[3]
| “ | A Joint Resolution Proposing An Amendment To Article 6, Section 32 Of The Constitution Of New Mexico To Provide For Two Additional Members To Sit On The Judicial Standards Commission, A Municipal Judge And A Public Member.[4] | ” |
In the News
New Mexico election recap, 2012
Thirty-nine candidates ran in New Mexico's partisan general election last week. This year saw two races for the Supreme Court: Firstly, Justice Richard Bosson was successfully retained to his position with 75% of the vote. Secondly, Paul J. Kennedy and Barbara J. Vigil battled for a vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Patricio Serna earlier this year, with Vigil taking 54% of the vote, defeating incumbent Justice Kennedy.
In the Court of Appeals, incumbent J. Miles Hanisee was ousted by District Judge M. Monica Zamora who won 55%, becoming the courts newest judge. Judges Michael Vigil and Roderick Kennedy, who both ran for retention, were retained.
For the states trial courts we saw: Only two unopposed candidates, seven incumbents re-elected, five incumbents ousted, and 7 new judges elected.
Three incumbents ousted in New Mexico's Third Judicial District
As featured in JP Election Brief: Highlights of the 2012 judicial elections on November 15, 2012
Last week's general election did not bode well for some of Dona Ana County's Third District judges. All three of the district's incumbent candidates were defeated in the November 6th general election. In Division 2, Judge Susan M. Riedel was ousted by Marci E. Beyer; in Division 3, Judge Nelson J. Goodin was defeated by Darren Murray Kugler; and in Division 4, Judge Jacinto Palomino was bested by Mary W. Rosner.[5]
The three defeated judges were appointed by Governor Susana Martinez over the past two years.[5]
Judge Douglas R. Driggers anticipates that there could be minor delays in the transition, but remained optimistic saying there should "be little if any disruption." Judge-elect Mary W. Rosner also expressed that she and fellow judge-elects would be able to work together once in the courtroom.[5]
| “ | We are colleagues. We trust each other. We are friends... we are at the beginning, starting our work as judges in an atmosphere of collegiality and trust.[5] - Judge-elect Mary W. Rosner[4] | ” |
The newly elected judges, Beyer, Kugler, and Rosner, will begin their terms on the Third Judicial District Court in the first week of January 2013.[5]
New Mexico Supreme Court race
As featured in JP Election Brief: The Supreme Court Special on October 18, 2012.
Two of the five New Mexico Supreme Court seats are up for election this year, but only one of the two races is contested.
Richard Bosson is running unopposed to retain his seat on the court. He was first appointed in 2002, and first retained in 2004.
Barbara J. Vigil is running for election to an open seat on the court created by the August retirement of justice Patricio Serna.[6][7] She faces current and former Supreme Court justice Paul J. Kennedy, who was appointed to fill the seat between August and January by Governor Susana Martinez.
If Vigil is elected, it will increase the number of the women on the court to two; the other female justice is Petra Jimenez Maes. Her election would mean that the political balance of the court would stay intact, as Vigil and Serna both identify as Democrats.[8] If Kennedy is elected to the position, he will be the first Republican justice elected to New Mexico's high court since 1980.
Two magistrate candidates kicked off ballot in Dona Ana County
New Mexico, April 3, 2012: Two candidates hoping to compete for magistrate judge in Dona Ana County have been removed from the ballot by the county's clerk. Lynn Ellins explained that candidates for the position have additional requirements now that the county's population has passed 200,000. Previously, magistrates were not required to be licensed attorneys.[9]
Neither candidate accepts that explanation. Both Paul A. Martinez and Keith Lamonica are challenging the clerk's decision, albeit with different approaches. Martinez is represented by an attorney as he challenges the order in the New Mexico Supreme Court, while Lamonica will represent himself in the Third Judicial District Court.[9]
Lamonica suspects foul play, stating that the removal of two Democratic candidates allows Republican Governor Susana Martinez to appoint a magistrate to the vacancy. The former candidate says Ellins' decision was "arbitrary and capricious, discriminatory, and a clear violation of the rational basis test of the equal protection clause."[9]
That, of course, will be for the New Mexico state courts to decide.
Candidate filings in New Mexico
As featured in JP Election Brief: The Rainbow Connection on March 22, 2012.
Tuesday, March 20, was the filing deadline for the primary election in New Mexico. The primary will occur on June 5, 2012, along with primaries in California, Mississippi and Montana.
There will be twelve District Court seats on the ballot in New Mexico this year. Below is a breakdown by district:
- New Mexico Second Judicial District Court: 3 seats, all contested in the general election. A Republican primary race will take place for Division 21.
- New Mexico Third Judicial District Court: 3 seats, all contested in the general election.
- New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court: 1 seat, with a Republican primary race for Division 9.
- New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Court: 1 seat, with a Republican and Democratic race for Division 2.
- New Mexico Eighth Judicial District Court: 2 seats, both with Democratic primary races.
- New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Court: 1 seat, with Donna Mowrer running unopposed for re-election.
- New Mexico Thirteenth Judicial District Court: 1 seat, with only one Democratic candidate running.
All filing information comes from New Mexico Secretary of State, Candidate Filings at the Secretary of State's Office - District Judge (dead link)
New Mexico Supreme Court rejects redistricting maps
New Mexico, February 14, 2012: In a 4-1 decision, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that the redistricting maps selected by Special Judge James Hall are unconstitutional. This decision highlights the potential conflict between the high court and Governor Susana Martinez as they try to adopt an acceptable plan. The court ruled that it is Judge Hall's responsibility to create new maps by February 27, rather than to select which submitted plan is most acceptable.[10]
Governor Martinez, meanwhile, plans to appeal the high court's ruling to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.[10]
Below are the important dates in redistricting this year in New Mexico:
- October 12, 2012: After months of legislative attempts at redistricting, the Supreme Court appointed Judge Hall to preside over the process.
- December 29, 2011: Hall adopted a map with bi-partisan support, which made the fewest possible changes to previous boundaries.
- January 3, 2012: The map was approved by the New Mexico House of Representatives, though Democrats claimed that it was rigged in favor of Republican incumbents.
- February 7, 2012: Supreme Court holds hearing to consider Democratic challenge of adopted maps.
- February 10, 2012: Supreme Court overturns adopted maps, finding that they do not comply with the "one person, one vote" mandate of the Equal Protection clause.[11][12]
See also
- New Mexico judicial elections
- JP Election Brief: The Rainbow Connection, March 22, 2012
- News: Two magistrate candidates kicked off ballot in Dona Ana County, April 3, 2012
Footnotes
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
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- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State: Frequently Asked Election Questions
- ↑ New Mexico HJR 18
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "The 2012 General Election ballots shall contain the following language", Retrieved October 3, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Las Cruces Sun-News, "Doña Ana County's new DA, 3 state judges face quick transition," November 7, 2012
- ↑ NM JPEC, "Final Recommendation: The Honorable Barbara J. Vigil," accessed October 17, 2012
- ↑ Democracy for New Mexico, "NM State Supreme Court Candidates at Bernalillo Co Dem Forum - Part 1," August 18, 2012
- ↑ Las Cruces Sun, "NM Supreme Court Our Choice: Barbara Vigil," October 11, 2012
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Alamogordo Daily News, "Dona Ana clerk outs 2 magistrate candidates from primary ballot," March 30, 2012
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 NMPolitics.net, "High court rejects House redistricting plan; guv to appeal," February 13, 2012
- ↑ Redistricting in New Mexico#Legal issues
- ↑ Santa Fe New Mexican, Supreme Court order February 10, 2012
