Governor demands more choices for judicial vacancy

Susana Martinez

Real Clear Politics - Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, like her Democratic predecessor, wants a choice of candidates when it comes to appointing judges and she's flexing her gubernatorial power to make her point Martinez has asked an independent judicial nominating commission to go back to work and send her more than one candidate for a judicial vacancy in southern New Mexico. Former Gov. Bill Richardson took a similar approach in 2007, and the dispute ended up before the state Supreme Court. Richardson, however, never got the extra judicial candidates he sought. In New Mexico, the governor appoints district judges from candidates recommended by a bipartisan nominating commission, which is made up of judges, lawyers and members of the public who are not lawyers. Unlike many boards and commissions, the governor names only a few members of a nominating commission.

Judges, legislative leaders and a statewide organization of lawyers select most members. A screening commission last month interviewed four applicants for a judgeship in the 6th Judicial District that covers Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties but recommended only one person Deming lawyer Jennifer DeLaney, a Democrat. All of the applicants are running for the judgeship in this year's elections two Democrats and two Republicans. Scott Darnell, a spokesman for the governor, said Martinez's request for more nominees "has nothing to do with the particular applicant who was submitted. The governor simply wants to uphold the separate constitutional duties assigned to the judicial nominating commission and the governor, respectively. State law affords her the opportunity to fill the vacancy as opposed to the judicial nominating commission, in effect, making the appointment," Darnell said in a statement. The commission is to meet on May 1 to consider the governor's request, but there's no guarantee the panel will send the governor additional names. Read More News New Mexico

Governor demands more choices for judicial vacancy