Tag: new mexico
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Julie Vargas sworn in to New Mexico Supreme Court
On January 25, Julie Vargas was sworn in as a justice on the New Mexico Supreme Court. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) appointed Vargas on December 19, 2020, to succeed Justice Judith Nakamura (R), who retired on December 1. Prior to her appointment, Vargas was a judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. She…
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Governor’s appointment shifts New Mexico Supreme Court partisan balance
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) appointed Julie Vargas (D) to the New Mexico Supreme Court on December 19, 2020. Vargas succeeds Justice Judith Nakamura (R) who retired on Dec. 1. Vargas was Gov. Lujan Grisham’s third nominee to the five-member supreme court. Her appointment shifted the partisan balance on the New Mexico Supreme…
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New Mexico, West Virginia allow schools to reopen after holiday closures
Starting Jan. 19, all public and private pre-K, elementary, and middle schools in West Virginia were required to resume full-time in-person or hybrid (at least two in-person days every week) instruction, regardless of their county’s coronavirus transmission rates. High schools were still required to close if located in counties the Department of Health and Human…
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Supreme Court releases opinion on water dispute between Texas and New Mexico
The Supreme Court of the United States issued an opinion in Texas v. New Mexico, which was argued on October 5, 2020. The case is part of the court’s original jurisdiction, meaning it was the first and only court to hear the case. Original jurisdiction cases are rare. According to the Federal Judicial Center, since…
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Supreme Court releases opinion on water dispute between Texas and New Mexico
The Supreme Court of the United States issued an opinion in Texas v. New Mexico, which was argued on October 5, 2020. The case is part of the court’s original jurisdiction, meaning it was the first and only court to hear the case. Texas v. New Mexico concerned an interstate water dispute. In 1949, the…
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New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Nakamura retires
New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura retired on Dec. 1, 2020. She originally planned to retire on Aug. 1 but postponed her retirement date in June. Governor Susana Martinez (R) appointed Nakamura to the court in November 2015. Prior to her appointment, Nakamura was a judge on the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court…
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Yvette Herrell defeats incumbent Xochitl Torres Small in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District
Yvette Herrell (R) defeated incumbent Xochitl Torres Small (D) and Steve Jones (I) in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. The race was one of 56 U.S. House rematches ongoing this year; Herrell and Small ran for the then-open seat in 2018, as incumbent Steve Pearce (R) sought the governorship. That year, Torres Small defeated Herrell…
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Trujillo resigns from New Mexico House of Representatives
On Sept. 28, Rep. Jim Trujillo (D) resigned from the District 45 seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives, citing health and family reasons. Trujillo was first appointed to the seat in 2003 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Patsy Trujillo, to whom he is not related. Trujillo’s successor will be…
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New Mexico Supreme Court rules Governor Lujan Grisham may fine businesses for violating public health orders
On August 4, 2020, the New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the governor may legally fine businesses that violate the New Mexico Public Health Emergency Response Act. The case came to the supreme court after several businesses filed suit in the 9th Judicial District in Curry County. The state Republican Party helped organize the…
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Lujan appointed to New Mexico House of Representatives
The Santa Fe County Commission appointed Tara Lujan (D) to the New Mexico House of Representatives on July 23. Lujan fills the District 48 seat vacated by Linda Trujillo (D) on July 9, when Trujillo resigned in order to focus on full-time work due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lujan will serve in the New Mexico…