Chief Judge William P. Johnson and the Article III District Judges for the District of New Mexico would like to solicit interest from Federal Bar members for service on the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel (“the Panel”).  In the District of New Mexico, there are five full time magistrate judges in Albuquerque, five full time magistrate judges in Las Cruces and two part time magistrate judges, with one in Farmington and the other in Roswell. Whenever there is a magistrate judge vacancy, the Panel is responsible for (i) reviewing the application packets submitted by all applicants, (ii) determining the list of qualified applicants to be interviewed by the Panel, and (iii) from those applicants interviewed by the Panel determining by majority vote of the Panel members the five most qualified applicants and then forwarding the names of those five most qualified applicants to the District Judges who will then interview the finalists and make a selection.

The Panel also has the responsibility of issuing a report and recommendation to the District Judges whenever a U.S. Magistrate Judge seeks another term. By statute, U.S. Magistrate Judges serve eight-year terms and may seek reappointment for additional eight-year terms. As part of the Magistrate Judge reappointment process, the Panel must seek input from attorneys, litigants and other members of the public concerning magistrate judges seeking reappointment and then issue a report and recommendation on whether said judges should be reappointed.

Any member of the Federal Bar in good standing and interested in being selected by the District Judges to serve on the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel should submit a Letter of Interest no later than Wednesday, October 16, 2024, to the Clerk of Court, U. S. District Court, 333 Lomas Blvd. NW, Suite 270, Albuquerque, NM 87102; or by email to clerkofcourt@nmd.uscourts.gov to be considered for appointment to the Panel.