Panel to vet NM Supreme Court applicants
Jun. 17—ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission will meet Thursday to recommend who will replace Justice Barbara Vigil, the longest-serving member of the current New Mexico Supreme Court, who is retiring at the end of the month.
The hearing starts at 9 a.m. and will be on Zoom, as well as 89.1 FM & HD1 KANW in Albuquerque, 88.1 FM KIDS in Grants, 91.9 FM KANR in Santa Rosa, 88.1 FM KGGA in Gallup, 91.1 FM KEDP in Las Vegas. The proceeding will also be streamed live on www.kanw.org.
There were seven applicants for the position:
⋅ Frank V. Crociata, an attorney with Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A.
⋅ Judge Jennifer DeLaney, 6th Judicial District Court.
⋅ Judge T. Glenn Ellington, 1st Judicial District Court.
⋅ Scott Thomas Fuqua, principal and owner of Fuqua Law & Policy.
⋅ Victor Lopez, 2nd Judicial District Court judge.
⋅ Judge Mekko M. Miller, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of San Ildefonso and Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
⋅ Judge Briana Zamora, New Mexico Court of Appeals.
The nominating commission is comprised of nine Republicans, nine Democrats and one independent. Sergio Pareja, the dean of the University of New Mexico Law School, will be the chair. The body will make a recommendation to the governor, who will ultimately decide who will finish Vigil's term.
Vigil's successor will have to stand in a partisan election in 2022, and the winner of that election will face a retention vote in 2024, according to the Associated Press.
