New Mexico governor appoints new Otero County Magistrate Court judge

(KVIA) -- Tuesday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said she appointed a new judge for the Otero County Magistrate Court, Division 2.

Joseph Cutts will fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Judge Albert R. Greene III.

Cutts defeated Greene in the primary election and will run unopposed in the November general election. Greene stepped down from the bench after his defeat.

Cutts' appointment will start Sept. 12 and will run until the next general election.

Gov. Lujan Grisham said Cutts served as a senior adult probation and parole officer with the state corrections department since 2012.

He also teaches criminal justice at New Mexico State University Alamogordo. From NMSU Alamogordo, he graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in criminal justice. Cutts graduated from NMSU in Las Cruces with a Bachelor of criminal justice. He also holds a Master of Science in criminal justice from the University of Oklahoma.

The governor also said Cutts has 11 years of combined military service.