Judge Nan Nash announces plans to retire
Stan Whitaker selected by colleagues to serve as District Court’s next chief
Chief District Court Judge Nan Nash has announced plans to retire at the end of the year.
Stan Whitaker, a judge in the court’s criminal division, has been selected by his colleagues to serve as the court’s next chief, according to a news release.
Nash, 61, was appointed 2nd Judicial District Court judge in 2003 and has served as chief judge for four years, but she’s worked in the courthouse for 25 years. In an interview Tuesday, she said she plans to “do both more and less” after her retirement.
“It has been a really interesting and fulfilling career, but I feel that it’s time,” Nash said. “It’s time to press myself to do some different things.”
She will miss examining the court system and searching for ways to improve it, and she will miss her colleagues.
“After this many years ... it’s become both what I do and who I am,” she said.
Whitaker, in a statement, said Nash has shown an “unwavering commitment to the independence of the judiciary, procedural fairness and access to justice” and that he hopes to build on her legacy.
And Nash said the court will be in good hands under Whitaker’s leadership. The chief judge has administrative authority over court operations.
Whitaker, a University of New Mexico Law School graduate, was appointed to the family court in 2006, and later moved to the criminal division.
“I am honored to be elected chief judge of a court with the quality of judges and staff we have in the Second Judicial District,” Whitaker said in the news release. “It is obvious to me every day that I walk into the courthouse that everyone here is truly dedicated to public service and maintaining the public’s confidence in the judiciary.”
The Judicial Nominating Commission will interview applicants for the civil division vacancy created by Nash’s retirement.
The commission typically sends a list of potential candidates to the governor, who is tasked with appointing a new judge.