NEW MEXICO COURT NEWOF APPEALS MEXICO POSITIONCOURT OF2 APPEALS POSITION 2 The League asked:

There are ten judges on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. It is the intermediate court between the district courts and the Supreme Court. Judges sit in panels of three. The Court reviews appeals in all cases, except criminal cases involving sentences of death or life imprisonment, appeals from the Public Regulation Commission and cases involving habeas corpus. Judges must be at least 35 years old, have practiced law for ten years, and have resided in New Mexico for the last three years. Judges are elected statewide for eight-year terms. Judicial vacancies are filled through appointment by the Governor from a list of nominees submitted by a judicial nominating committee. At the next regular election the judicial position is filled in a partisan election in which the appointed judge must participate and win the most votes to retain the seat. Judges serve for terms of a set number of years, after which they must win a 57% “yes” in retention elections to keep their seats.

1. How have your training, professional experience and interests prepared you to serve on the court?

2. Do you believe that all persons in New Mexico have fair and equal access to legal assistance and the legal system? If not, what reforms do you support? Please explain.

3. What changes, if any, would you recommend to the NM Court of Appeals practices and why?

4. Do you favor nonpartisan elections for the judiciary? Why or why not?

5. What policies are critical to keep the judiciary independent from political influence?

3. What is your position on opening new charter schools? Should there be a cap on the total number of state charter schools?

4. How should the PEC assess the financial stability of schools before authorizing or renewing a charter?