United States District Court for the District of New Mexico

The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (in case citations, D.N.M.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of New Mexico. Court is held in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe.

United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
(D.N.M.)
LocationPete V. Domenici U.S. Courthouse
(Albuquerque) (Headquarters)
More locations
Appeals toTenth Circuit
EstablishedJune 20, 1910
Judges7
Chief JudgeWilliam P. Johnson
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyAlexander M.M. Uballez
U.S. MarshalSonya K. Chavez
www.nmd.uscourts.gov

Appeals from the District of New Mexico are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The United States attorney is Alexander M.M. Uballez since May 24, 2022.[1]

Current judges

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As of October 27, 2023:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
18 Chief Judge William P. Johnson Albuquerque 1959 2001–present 2018–present G.W. Bush
20 District Judge James O. Browning Albuquerque 1956 2003–present G.W. Bush
22 District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales Las Cruces 1964 2013–present Obama
23 District Judge Kea W. Riggs Albuquerque 1965 2019–present Trump
24 District Judge Margaret Strickland Las Cruces 1980 2021–present Biden
25 District Judge David H. Urias Albuquerque 1967 2022–present Biden
26 District Judge Matthew L. Garcia Albuquerque 1974 2023–present Biden
15 Senior Judge Martha Vázquez Santa Fe 1953 1993–2021 2003–2010 2021–present Clinton
17 Senior Judge Christina Armijo inactive 1951 2001–2018 2012–2018 2018–present G.W. Bush
19 Senior Judge Robert C. Brack Las Cruces 1953 2003–2018 2018–present G.W. Bush
21 Senior Judge Judith C. Herrera Albuquerque 1954 2004–2019 2019–present G.W. Bush


Vacancies and pending nominations

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Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
4 Albuquerque William P. Johnson Senior status TBD[2] Sarah M. Davenport September 9, 2024

Former judges

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# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 William Hayes Pope NM 1870–1916 1912–1916 Taft death
2 Colin Neblett NM 1875–1950 1917–1948 1948–1950 Wilson death
3 Orie Leon Phillips NM 1885–1974 1923–1929 Harding elevation to 10th Cir.
4 Carl Hatch NM 1889–1963 1949–1963 1954–1963 1963 Truman death
5 Waldo Henry Rogers NM 1908–1964 1954–1964 1963–1964 Eisenhower death
6 Harry Vearle Payne NM 1908–1983 1963–1978 1964–1978 1978–1983 Kennedy death
7 Howard C. Bratton NM 1922–2002 1964–1987 1978–1987 1987–2002 L. Johnson death
8 Edwin L. Mechem NM 1912–2002 1970–1982 1982–2002 Nixon death
9 Santiago E. Campos NM 1926–2001 1978–1992 1987–1989 1992–2001 Carter death
10 Juan Guerrero Burciaga NM 1929–1995 1979–1994 1989–1994 1994–1995 Carter death
11 Bobby Ray Baldock NM 1936–present 1983–1986 Reagan elevation to 10th Cir.
12 John Edwards Conway NM 1934–2014 1986–2000 1994–2000 2000–2014 Reagan death
13 James Aubrey Parker NM 1937–2022 1987–2003 2000–2003 2003–2022 Reagan death
14 Curtis LeRoy Hansen NM 1933–2023 1992–2003 2003–2023 G.H.W. Bush death
16 Bruce D. Black NM 1947–present 1995–2012 2010–2012 2012–2017 Clinton retirement

Chief judges

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Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

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List of U.S. attorneys

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alexander M.M. Uballez Sworn in as United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico". United States Department of Justice. May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov.
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