United States District Court for the District of New Mexico

Last updated
United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
(D.N.M.)
NMDSeal3.png
Map of USA NM.svg
Location Pete V. Domenici U.S. Courthouse
(Albuquerque) (Headquarters)
More locations
Appeals to Tenth Circuit
EstablishedJune 20, 1910
Judges7
Chief Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison (acting)
U.S. Marshal Sonya K. Chavez
www.nmd.uscourts.gov

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.

Contents

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 acting United States attorney is Ryan Ellison since 2025.

Current judges

As of January 13,2025:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
22Chief Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales Las Cruces 19642013–present2025–present— Obama
20District Judge James O. Browning Albuquerque 19562003–present—— G.W. Bush
23District Judge Kea W. Riggs Albuquerque 19652019–present—— Trump
24District Judge Margaret Strickland Las Cruces 19802021–present—— Biden
25District Judge David H. Urias Albuquerque 19672022–present—— Biden
26District Judge Matthew L. Garcia Albuquerque 19742023–present—— Biden
27District Judge Sarah M. Davenport Las Cruces 19762025–present—— Biden
15Senior Judge Martha Vázquez Santa Fe 19531993–20212003–20102021–present Clinton
17Senior Judge Christina Armijo inactive19512001–20182012–20182018–present G.W. Bush
18Senior Judge William P. Johnson Albuquerque 19592001–20252018–20252025–present G.W. Bush
19Senior Judge Robert C. Brack Las Cruces 19532003–2018—2018–present G.W. Bush
21Senior Judge Judith C. Herrera Albuquerque 19542004–2019—2019–present G.W. Bush

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatPrior judge's duty stationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
6 Albuquerque James O. Browning [1] Senior status February 1, 2026––

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 William Hayes Pope NM 1870–19161912–1916—— Taft death
2 Colin Neblett NM 1875–19501917–1948—1948–1950 Wilson death
3 Orie Leon Phillips NM 1885–19741923–1929—— Harding elevation to 10th Cir.
4 Carl Hatch NM 1889–19631949–19631954–19631963 Truman death
5 Waldo Henry Rogers NM 1908–19641954–19641963–1964— Eisenhower death
6 Harry Vearle Payne NM 1908–19831963–19781964–19781978–1983 Kennedy death
7 Howard C. Bratton NM 1922–20021964–19871978–19871987–2002 L. Johnson death
8 Edwin L. Mechem NM 1912–20021970–1982—1982–2002 Nixon death
9 Santiago E. Campos NM 1926–20011978–19921987–19891992–2001 Carter death
10 Juan Guerrero Burciaga NM 1929–19951979–19941989–19941994–1995 Carter death
11 Bobby Baldock NM 1936–present1983–1986—— Reagan elevation to 10th Cir.
12 John Edwards Conway NM 1934–20141986–20001994–20002000–2014 Reagan death
13 James Aubrey Parker NM 1937–20221987–20032000–20032003–2022 Reagan death
14 Curtis LeRoy Hansen NM 1933–20231992–2003—2003–2023 G.H.W. Bush death
16 Bruce D. Black NM 1947–present1995–20122010–20122012–2017 Clinton retirement

Chief judges

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

List of U.S. attorneys

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov.
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