Supreme Court Candidate Cate Stetson Meets With Doña Ana County Democrats

Cate Stetson was in Las Cruces on Monday evening to meet with local Democrats at the Doña Ana County Democratic Campaign Headquarters at 136 N. Water Street, and answer questions about her candidacy for New Mexico Supreme Court. Stetson is one of five announced candidates who are seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Patricio M. Serna. An Albuquerque attorney, Stetson has an extensive civil rights background, and is a specialist in Federal Indian law.

Under New Mexico statute, members of the New Mexico Democratic Party State Central Committee will name the Democratic candidate for the Supreme Court vacancy at its August 25 meeting at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Stetson will contest with the four other announced candidates at that meeting for the Party’s nomination.

The position will ultimately be filled by voters in the November general election.

Cate Stetson fields questions from southern New Mexico Democrats in Las Cruces on Monday.

Doña Ana County Democrats Hear From Supreme Court Candidates

On Thursday evening Doña Ana County Democrats heard from Judge Victor S. Lopez and Judge Barbara J. Vigil, who are seeking the Democratic nomination to fill the Serna vacancy on the New Mexico Supreme Court in November. Both judicial candidates addressed local Democrats at the monthly executive committee meeting at the new Dona Ana County Democratic campaign headquarters on N. Water St. in Las Cruces. Judge Lopez is from Albuquerque, Judge Vigil is from Santa Fe. Each of the candidates made the journey south to meet personally with Democrats in Doña Ana County.

Judge Victor S. Lopez

Judge Barbara J. Vigil

Under New Mexico law, members of the New Mexico Democratic Party State Central Committee will name the Democratic candidate for the Supreme Court vacancy later this summer. Lopez and Vigil will contest with several other announced candidates in seeking the nomination.

New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Patricio Serna announced earlier this month that he is retiring later this summer. Serna will retire effective at midnight Aug. 31. Serna, who is 72 has served on the court for 16 years, having been elected to the post in November 1996.

The position will ultimately be filled by voters in the November general election.

The Doña Ana County Democratic campaign headquarters at 136 N. Water St. in Las Cruces will have a formal opening and begin regular staffing later this month.