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Doña Ana County residents overwhelmingly voted to retain three district judges at the Nov. 5 election.
Voters endorsed 3rd Judicial District Judges Conrad Perea, James “Jim” Martin and Richard Jacquez by wide margins, as all three were up for retention.
In New Mexico, when a vacancy opens in district court, a nominating commission suggests attorneys to the governor as potential judges. The governor then appoints the person or requests a new candidate. Once appointed, the new judge is placed on the ballot in the next election, giving community members a chance to challenge the governor's appointee.
After that, the judge is up for retention votes every eight years. That process also includes a review from the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, or JPEC.
JPEC surveys staff, attorneys and jurors about the judge's performance to make recommendations on whether to retain the judges.
The same process applies to any justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge in any part of the state or metropolitan court judge
JPEC suggested retaining all three Doña Ana County District Judges in this cycle.
Perea received 52,999 votes (about 75 percent) in favor of retention, Martin received 51,193 (about 73 percent), and Jacquez received 51,642 (about 74 percent).
