NM Magistrate Judges Association Elects New Officers and Board; Education Top Priority

The New Mexico Magistrate Judges Association, a non-profit organization of the Magistrate Judges of New Mexico, recently elected their Officers and Board of Directors for 2010. Judge Karen Mitchell, Harding County Magistrate Court, was elected President. Judge Warren G. Walton, Colfax County Magistrate Court, was elected Vice President, and Judge Pat Casados, Los Alamos County Magistrate Court, was elected Secretary/Treasurer.

Established in 1970, the New Mexico Magistrate Judges Associate strives to improve the judicial process and quality of Magistrate Court judges in New Mexico.

“Due to the commitment of the Magistrate Association, the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Judicial Education Commission, we are initiating a new program for all new judges elected in 2010," said Said President Mitchell in a statement released by the New Mexico Judiciary. "In 2010, new judges will receive ten days of education by sitting judges. The ten days of education is in addition to the five days of education classes provided to all Magistrate Court judges each year at their annual conference. I am proud that New Mexico provides the highest level of education in the country to our Magistrate Court judges.”

The sixteen newly elected Members of the Board are:

• Judge Stacey D. Biel, San Juan County;
• Judge Henry Castaneda, Eddy County;
• Judge Duane Castleberry, Curry County;
• Judge Kenneth Eichwald, Sandoval County;
• Judge Oscar C. Frietze, Dona Ana County;
• Judge Tina Gallegos, Valencia County;
• Judge D. Joel Garnett, Quay County;
• Judge Buddy Hall, De Baca County;
• Judge Danny H. Hawkes, Valencia County;
• Judge L. Steve Jones, Torrance County;
• Judge Russell Martin, Lea County;
• Judge Delilah Montano-Baca, Sandoval County;
• Judge Richard “Buzzy” Padilla, Santa Fe County;
• Judge Torbio Perea, Belen;
• Judge Tom Pestak, Sierra County;
• Judge Henrietta Sandoval-Soland, McKinley County.