Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM
Voting for Metropolitan and District Judges?
I posted earlier but got no response to the question of how does one go about finding information on who might be a good judge and who might not. This question came about from a discussion at a neighbor’s yard sale when a gentleman on the block came down with his absentee ballot and ask if he could leave the spaces for judges blank if he didn’t know anything about the candidate. We discussed that we thought he could but the three of us standing there always filled out all the spaces. He then asks how we decided who to vote for. One gentleman confessed he generally picked the one with a Hispanic name and I confessed that I generally picked the woman. Feeling a little guilty for my method of choosing a candidate I decided to research them and this year make an educated choice. I have tried hard to find someplace that rates the performance of those running for the metropolitan and district judge positions and can’t find anything. None of the organizations I check blog pages for have endorsements and I would tend to vote against anyone the Journal endorsed. How do the rest of you pick which candidate to vote for?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Khan on -
I have no idea. The League of Women Voters usually puts out a publication (look for it around the supermarket, if memory serves, or hopefully at party offices where you can register) that has some info on every candidate. But I'm not certain if they do it for mini-elections like the one coming up here.
As far as judges, if you really want to vote on them but don't have any opinion (which is valid, in my view!), a friend of mine uses a system that I've also employed--never vote to keep a judge who has already sat. Keep the pool moving. If it's keep Karen vs. elect Helen, elect Helen. Don't build a sense of entitlement for elected judges.
That said...heck, I dunno.
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Permalink Reply by Raine K. on -
Khan - as far as district court judges - they are initially appointed and then have to stand for one partisan election - so your formula doesn't work that well - the people running against them are usually the ones that didn't cut the mustard to be appointed.
After that initial appointment/partisan election. They're up for non-partisan "retention" elects every six years.
And BTW - I think your system sucks - I have a friend who's a judge - a great judge (she was just on the official short-list for State Supreme Court) - and it would be sad to see her go in five years because a thinking like that. It's always best to choose based on info - don't have info - don't vote for that category.
"The Constitution of the State of New Mexico provides for the qualifications and selection of district judges. To hold the office of district judge a person must be at least thirty-five years old and been in the actual practice of law at least six years preceding assumption of office. A district judge is initially appointed by the Governor of the State of New Mexico. The judge must stand for one partisan election. After that, each judge shall be subject to retention or rejection on a nonpartisan ballot. Retention of the judicial office shall require at least 57 percent of the vote cast on the question of retention or rejection. Each district judge shall be subject to retention or rejection at the general election every sixth year. Every judicial district has a chief judge selected by the judges of that district for a term of three years."
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Permalink Reply by Gretchen on -
For sitting judges, voters can find some information through New Mexico's Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission:
http://www.nmjpec.org/
Many of the judges have campaign web pages that will provide voters a flavor of their judicial style.
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Permalink Reply by Chris on -
Here is what is on my Democratic Ballot
District Judge
2nd Judicial District
Division 9
_____ Bob Schwartz
_____ Benjamin Chavez
District Judge
2nd Judicial District
Division 25
_____ Elizabeth Whitefield
_____ Frank A. Seddillo
District Judge
2nd Judicial District
Division 26
_____ Charles W. Brown
_____ Gail K. Prosser
Judge of the Metropolitan Court
Division 6
_____ Reed S. Sheppard
_____ James A. Chavez
_____ Maria I. Dominguez
_____ Charles E. Knoblauch
_____ Garry L. Breeswine
Judge of the Metropolitan Court
Division 10
_____ Clyde William Demersseman
_____ Edward L. Benavidez
_____ Christina P. Argyres
There are two who do not have anyone running against them I have heard of Schwartz so that one is easy but the rest I don't know. I would love to find info like waht Flaca gave that guy I would vote for. I have checked the web page for Leauge of Women Voters and will try MADD also. Thanks for the suggestions.
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Meaders on -
Of course you should not vote in a race if you don't know enough about the candidates. Most of them have websites, and you can go there and read their endorsements, but not for judges.
No, the League is not doing a Voter Guide for the Primaries. However, the Albuquerque Journal does have one this time: They interviewed the candidates and published their answers. And their endorsements seem to be much better this time -- more moderate, and with an explanation for them. Think they hired some writers from the Tribune? And there is a link to print a sample ballot for your precinct, so you can be prepared when you vote.
Elizabeth Whitefield's opponent has dropped out, by the way.
The process for appointing judges seems to be a good one, so I usually vote for the one already in the job, unless there is an outcry against them. And many of the Democratic judges have been coming to Dem. Party events, so I have gotten to know them.
Three cheers for Maggie Toulouse Oliver, the County Clerk, for sending each Primary voter a list of where to vote, Early, Absentee, and on Election day. Did you know you can print yourself a sample ballot from her website? Go here, and then click on "Where Do I Vote (with sample ballot)" on the righthand menu.Then you can do your homework before you early vote at any of the 16 county locations.
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Permalink Reply by Chris on
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Maggie Toulouse Oliver is taking out full page ads in various newspapers and doing direct mailings to inform us of where to vote but I think it is a little strange that it is her name that appears in the largest type. They seem to me to be free political ads on my tax payer dollar. That is why I decided not to vote for her. Still can't find out much about the Judges so if I don't before the primary I'll just go with my past method.
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Permalink Reply by hettie on -
"But either way, she's still a hottie." heehee, my sweetie says he's weirded out every time he thinks about maggie being county clerk because they went to church together when they were little. (it's a small town...I went to h.s. with the woman who's now campaign manager for darren white. blech.)
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Permalink Reply by hbl on -
There is a great state resource, the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission. JPEC’s website provides a statewide look at all the Appellate Court, District Court and Metro Court Judges. The most recent updates are for the 2006 election but they are currently compiling information for the 2008 general election. They produce a great publication towards the end of summer that describes all the judges and their backgrounds. The purpose for JPEC is so that sitting Judges have accountability to a group outside of the Judiciary.
I know this does not help for the primary. This is an unusual year due to the number of judgeships available and candidates running for them. Try looking at Journal site that was suggested above and doing some digging around at the specific court websites to become familiar with the Judges. For example, in the 2nd District, Ninth division Bob Schwartz is running against Ben Chavez. Judge Schwartz was just appointed a few months ago and had served as a DA for a few years. However, he is running into a problem in that he has to be recused from many of his cases due to his pervious experience. Not his “fault” certainly but it does slow down the wheels of justice. Ben Chavez has been a Metro Court Judge for a few years and has done an amazing job of running the “Homeless Court”. And thanks for bringing all this up! Our Judiciary is such an important part of our government!
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Permalink Reply by Albuquerque Commentator on -
I was disappointed not to find something on the League of Women Voters pages, unless I missed it.
I would generally agree with get rid of incumbents, but I do give some leeway to experience and experience I have directly observed. So there are a couple I vote to retain when they come up.
It seems like a strange system to me, but in some respects it offsets the potential of someone sitting for life who is not doing a good job or does not educate themselves on a continuous basis. Many judges relay on the presentations of the parties at the bar. Pro-se litigants are probably at a disadvantage when there is an inexperienced judge sitting on the bench.
There should be a much higher standard applied when it involves something above the Metro-Court level, more is at stake and as you progress up the tiers of the judicial system and the more costly all the way around.
Division 25 is an easy one for me, I have seen Judge Seddillo in action numerous times and he comes across as being as fair as possible to all the parties in my experience. I'm sorry to hear he has dropped out.
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Permalink Reply by hbl on
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Although I agree with much of your posting, I believe you are mistaken about ongoing Judicial education. New Mexcio has a pretty cutting edge approach to Judicial education. Not only do we have several state statutes that make Judicial education manditory, yearly, for every sitting Judge at every level, we also have a Judicial Education Center that is housed within the Institue of Public Law based at the UNM law school. The Judicial Education Center puts on numerous continuing education programs for Judges as well as court staff. I don't feel I get to say New Mexico is on the cutting edge very often so I am glad when there is a chance...
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Permalink Reply by Chris on
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I have emailed the clerk and will let everyone know when she replies. I went down to Ernie Pyle Library this afternoon when I had to turn off the computer due to thunder and lightning and there was a women there asking Harry the same question of how to find out about judges. I guess I will try to keep a score card running for the next election. I have also met several of the candidates at Democratic functions but that just let you know how their public skills are not their professional skills. I did try the Journal web page forgetting that you have to have an online subscription before you can use it or you can watch an ad from their sponsor and get one free look but I thought that would only get me more spam in my in box than I already have.
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