Udall, Heinrich recommend judges

In anticipation of federal Judge Robert Brack’s retirement from the bench in Las Cruces come July and after Judge Christina Armijo’s retirement from her seat in Albuquerque in February, New Mexico’s senators have submitted recommendations for new federal judges.

The recommendation, part of the senators’ responsibilities, includes five current judges, an Albuquerque attorney and a federal public defender.

An announcement of U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich’s recommendations released Wednesday says Rep. Steve Pearce assisted with the recommendations.

Suggested for the Albuquerque post are:

Mark Baker, an attorney in Albuquerque with the firm Peifer, Hanson & Mullins, P.A.

Kea Riggs, 5th Judicial District judge in Chaves County.

James Lawrence Sanchez, a judge in the 13th Judicial District.

Steven Yarbrough, a federal magistrate judge in Albuquerque.

Suggested for the Las Cruces seat: Kea Riggs. Steven Sosa, an assistant federal public defender in Las Cruces.

Kevin Sweazea, a federal magistrate judge in Las Cruces.

Gregory Wormuth, a federal magistrate judge in Las Cruces.

The White House will decide who fills each vacancy.