Chief Justice Appoints Judge After Governor Refuses To Do So

SANTA FE (AP) – Former state District Judge Richard Brown has been appointed to a vacant district court judgeship in southern New Mexico.

The appointment was made today by Supreme Court Chief Justice Edward Chavez. It became the job of the chief justice to fill the vacancy after Governor Richardson refused to make an appointment because of a dispute with a judicial nominating commission. The group would only submit one candidate for the judgeship to Richardson and the governor wanted at least two nominees to consider.

The controversy began last year after District Judge Jay Forbes retired and five lawyers applied for the vacancy. The nominating commission recommended one of the candidates — Brown — to the governor in January. Richardson asked for additional nominees, but the commission decided not to do that.

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