Judge commission has been announced ahead of meeting

CLOVIS — The 17-member commission tasked to recommend the next district court judge has been announced ahead of its Aug. 25 nominating meeting at the Curry County Courthouse.

Nine candidates have applied to fill the position vacated by the retirement of Matt Chandler earlier this month — Angelina Baca, Jake Boazman, Brett Carter, Christian Christensen, Benjamin Cross, Quentin Ray, Justin Lynn Robbs, Brian Stover and Erin Sumrall Van Soelen.

The commission will interview each candidate during the day before a public vote to decide which candidate or candidates to recommend to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for appointment.

The commission members are:

• Sergio Pareja of the University of New Mexico School of Law, who will serve as chair

• Supreme Court Justice Briana Zamora

• New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Gerald E. Baca

• Chief District Judge Drew Tatum

• Clovis attorney Mickie Patterson

• Nicole Madrid, a paralegal in the Ninth Judicial District

• Curry County Manager Lance Pyle

• Clovis attorney Michael Garrett

• Jeremiah Hall, supervising attorney for the public defender’s office

• Realtor and former Clovis Mayor Gayla Brumfield

• Portales attorney Stephen Doerr

• Clovis attorney Hollie Barnett

• District Attorney Andrea Reeb

• Beth Lindsey, a hearing officer for the Ninth Judicial District

• Clovis attorney Richard Rowley

• Clovis attorney Marion Rutter

• Assistant District Attorney Mitchell Mender

The nominating commission will begin with a 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m. public meeting, followed by each candidate receiving a 30-minute interview. The commission will reconvene at 4 p.m. and deliberate before deciding on its nomination or nominations. The commission may deliberate in closed session if it chooses, but votes must be public.