State District Court Judge Timothy Garcia was appointed Nov. 12 to the state Court of Appeals, to replace Judge Joseph Alarid, according to the office of Governor Bill Richardson.
Garcia, 52, of Santa Fe, was the final appointee made by Richardson to fill three vacancies on the Court of Appeals. Alarid, as well as Judge Ira Robinson, had retired, and Judge Lynn Pickard had resigned. Judge Robert Robles of Las Cruces was appointed to replace Robinson, and Judge Linda Vanzi of Albuquerque was appointed to replace Pickard, according to the office.
“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” Garcia said. “I’m very thrilled.”
According to a press release, Richardson chose Garcia because he is even handed and fair, intelligent, and has a strong understanding of the law. The Governor’s office declined to elaborate on that explanation Tuesday.
Garcia, Robles and Vanzi were chosen from a list of 10 finalists. They were the only three judges on the list, the remainder were lawyers.
Garcia was approved for retention in the Nov. 4 election, his first retention election as he was appointed to be state District Court Judge in 2002. He served in the First Judicial District as the judge assigned to the Tierra Amarilla Courthouse. Prior to that, Garcia was an attorney in private practice, after receiving both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of New Mexico.
Garcia will be serving at the Court of Appeals in Santa Fe.
Although a press release from the Governor’s office states Garcia’s appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2009, Garcia said Tuesday he will actually be sworn in Jan. 12.
“They pushed it back because of budgetary issues,” Garcia said. “The Legislative Finance Committee is trying to save on this year’s budget because of revenue shortfalls – they’re trying to find some savings in the middle of the fiscal year.”
To be appointed a state District Court judge, lawyers must have practiced for at least six years and reside in the district for which they are elected or appointed, according to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission.
Governor’s office spokesman Caitlin Kelleher said last week that a Judicial Nominating Commission will recommend finalists to Richardson, who will appoint the new state District Court Judge to be stationed in Tierra Amarilla.
Garcia said since the District Court probably won’t get a new judge through the judicial selection process before Jan. 12, he will probably sit as a designated judge on one trial in that court before the new judge is appointed.
Other state District Court judges such as Judge Michael Vigil, Judge Stephen Pfeffer, and Judge James Hall will probably also try some of the Rio Arriba County cases in the interim, Garcia said.
In the meantime, Garcia will complete the docket of cases he has remaining until the end of the year, he said.