Santa Fe lawyer picked as U.S. attorney
Ex-prosecutor backed by Heinrich, Udall, Pearce
WASHINGTON — The White House announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump intends to nominate John C. Anderson, a former federal prosecutor now working in private law in Santa Fe, as the next U.S. attorney for New Mexico.
Anderson, who specializes in litigation and government investigation at the Holland & Hart law firm, served as an assistant U.S. attorney in New Mexico from 2008 until 2013. Anderson also clerked for Judge Paul J. Kelly Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Anderson is a cum laude graduate of the Fordham University School of Law in New York.
If confirmed by the Senate, Anderson will replace Damon Martinez, an Obama appointee who was dismissed by the Trump White House in March. Martinez is now running for Congress in Albuquerque’s 1st Congressional District.
Anderson, 42, was one of two U.S. attorney candidates suggested to the White House by members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation. The other candidate was Fred Federici, currently an assistant U.S. attorney in Albuquerque.
Reached at his Santa Fe office Wednesday, Anderson said he was excited by the news of his pending nomination but declined to say much more — at least until he is confirmed by the Senate.
“I’m honored to have my name advanced for the position, and I hope to be confirmed,” Anderson said.
Andy Schultz of the Rodey Law Firm in Albuquerque said he’s worked on complex legal defense cases in which
Anderson represented one defendant in the case and Schultz represented another.
“John is a strong litigator and clearly knows his way around the courtroom, and these are the kinds of things you’d want to see from someone who is running a (U.S. attorney’s) office that size,” Schultz said, adding that Anderson was widely considered an early front-runner for the New Mexico post after Trump dismissed Martinez and more than three dozen other U.S. attorneys in March.
Chuck Peifer of the Peifer, Hanson & Mullins law firm in Albuquerque said Anderson’s previous experience in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico would serve him well in the new role.
“John is an excellent choice to be a U.S. attorney in New Mexico,” Piefer said. “He knows that office, and he’ll be a hands-on prosecutor. He has the respect of his former colleagues in the office.”
Anderson’s chances for confirmation seem strong. Both of New Mexico’s U.S. senators — Democrats Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich — and the delegation’s only Republican, Rep. Steve Pearce, endorsed him for the job.
“The New Mexico delegation worked closely together to identify and recommend qualified New Mexicans for federal law enforcement appointments,” the three lawmakers said in a joint statement Wednesday. “We appreciate that the White House acted on our recommendations for U.S. attorney, and we offer our sincere congratulations to John Anderson.”