Matthew E. Jackson
AGE: 44
EDUCATION: J.D. with honors, University of Texas, 2008; B.M. (piano performance, composition), with honors and with honors in the liberal arts, Southern Methodist University, 1996. OCCUPATION: Attorney RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: I began my legal career at the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office in 2008 (prior to becoming a lawyer, I was a programmer at Yahoo). In February 2013, I left the AGO for private practice. I have represented the State of New Mexico, businesses and individuals, as plaintiffs and as defendants, in state and federal courts. I have worked on cases involving many different bodies of law, including public lands, payday lending, college savings funds, wrongful death, patents, natural gas royalties, business disputes, professional licensing, insurance coverage, antitrust and open government issues. As an assistant attorney general, I also represented judges, which gave me insight into how they approach their work and issues that can arise, both in civil and criminal cases. WHY I’M RUNNING
I am running for judge because I want to serve the people of New Mexico. I believe that my skills, breadth of experience and temperament make me the best candidate for the position. If elected, I will work diligently to administer the docket efficiently. I will decide the matters before the court impartially, and I will treat parties, counsel and witnesses with respect and compassion. That respect includes thorough hearing preparation — parties should expect a judge that has read the briefs and the cases. If elected, I will be alert to potential changes to improve the administration of justice, but I am reluctant to prescribe change without first understanding through personal experience the challenges faced from the bench.
BACKGROUND QUESTIONS
1. Have you or your business — if you are a business owner — ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens? No.
2. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? I have been outside counsel to parties in bankruptcy proceedings, but I have never been a party, directly or indirectly, to a bankruptcy proceeding.
3. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony? No.