ALBUQUERQUE, N.M – The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico announces the retirement of Clerk of Court Mitchell R. Elfers (“Mitch”) capping a distinguished 35-year career within the federal judiciary.

Mitch began his career with the District of New Mexico in December 1991 as a temporary PC Systems Administrator. He received a permanent appointment in 1993 and then over the next decade, his technical expertise and leadership potential saw him rise through various supervisory and managerial positions in the court’s Information Systems division. He became Chief Deputy Clerk in 2003 and excelled in that role until selected as Acting Clerk of Court in April 2018, while the court conducted a search to fill the Clerk of Court vacancy. After it became clear that Mitch was best suited to lead the District, he was selected to permanently fill the Clerk of Court Position in February 2019.

With a deep-rooted background in information technology, during his tenure with the judiciary Mitch has been instrumental in introducing major technology changes both locally and nationally, helping to usher the court into the digital age. In the early 1990s, he served as a team leader in various projects including the creation of the District’s original Opinion Retrieval System, which served as a model for the AO’s national document retrieval system. He was involved in the development and implementation of the Advanced Courts Engineering (“ACE”) electronic filing system – among the first in the nation. Mitch also provided assistance to the AO in its development of the CM/ECF system and its further development and implementation in the District of New Mexico. Additionally, Mitch served on the national eCJA VPS Working Group, tasked with developing an automated system for the management of the CJA processes of the court. Most recently, he served a three-year term as the designated District Clerk of Court on the national Case Management Modernization Board which advises regarding the CM/ECF modernization initiative on the scope and direction of the initiative, including the work and priorities of the development teams.

Mitch was always willing to give his time to assist others and was often sought out for counsel from staff and judges from within the District, from other districts, and from other agencies. He prioritized the well-being and professional growth of his staff and fostered a culture of mutual respect across the District.Mitch’s breadth of knowledge of information technology and his commitment to innovation and servant leadership will be deeply missed. He has been a trusted advisor and leader during his service with the District of New Mexico. While his professional achievements are vast, they have never overshadowed his greatest priority, his family. His retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter focused on spending quality time with his loved ones, who have supported his long tenure of public service.

The Honorable Kenneth J. Gonzales, Chief District Judge for the District of New Mexico, states, “Speaking on behalf of all the judges, I thank Mitch for his outstanding service to our court and the public we serve. His expertise and innovative approach to information services technology have significantly improved court operations throughout the federal judiciary. I congratulate Mitch and his family and wish him a very happy and healthy retirement.”

Please join us in wishing Mitch all the best in his well-deserved retirement.