The Republican Party of New Mexico is targeting more than the Roundhouse and the White House this fall, establishing a strong Republican slate of judicial candidates to bring much-needed change to New Mexico’s courts. Two strong Supreme Court and three Court of Appeals candidates have qualified to be on the ballot this November. All will receive public election funding.
With crime at an all-time high in New Mexico, it’s vital that we elect judges who will not coddle criminals but protect and provide real justice for our citizens. Our judicial system now is failing us, as judges allow a revolving door policy for repeat offenders.
Albuquerque’s recent record murder rate (not to mention five murders in the city this past week), the frequent release of dangerous suspects by courts and prosecutors’ soft approach on crime are why we must have tougher judges. New Mexico must have judges who understand the brutality of certain crimes and their impact on New Mexicans and our society.
In addition, with our personal freedoms being stripped, the threat of stronger abortion laws and the weakening of our 2nd Amendment rights, it’s imperative that New Mexico get more conservative justices and judges on the benches. We can make this happen by electing Republican experienced and knowledgeable judicial candidates.
This fall is the time for New Mexico voters to make their voices heard and to help protect our way of life in New Mexico. The legislature creates the state laws, but the courts interpret them. Progressive and liberal policies are endangering our liberties and freedoms, and this must stop.
RPNM is proud of its slate of judicial candidates who will make a difference, stand by traditional principles and interpret the law properly and intelligently.
All of the Republican candidates will receive public funding and are launching statewide campaigns. Their names will be on the judicial ballot.
New Mexico Supreme Court:
Ned Fuller, Position 1
Ned Fuller lives in Farmington and is a Deputy District Attorney in the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office. He has practiced law in New Mexico for more than 26 years. Fuller has prosecuted criminal cases as well as handling all manner of civil litigation with an emphasis in civil rights, employment, contracts, workers’ compensation, torts, class actions and business litigation.
Prior to his current position, Ned was a Cabinet Secretary and Executive Director of the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration. Fuller has also served as a judge on the 2ndJudicial District Court in New Mexico.
Fuller understands that a judge’s role is to uphold the law and not rewrite it, and most importantly, to uphold the Constitution.
Kerry Morris, Position 2Kerry Morris is an Albuquerque attorney and former prosecutor at the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. Morris has practiced law for nearly 40 years, representing thousands of individuals, small businesses, the State of New Mexico, insurance companies and other parties.
Morris has handled cases involving accidents, insurance, probate/wills/estate planning real estate, contracts, corporate law and other areas. He has prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including homicide, fraud, drunken driving and narcotics.
Morris pledges to faithfully interpret the Constitution and the laws enacted by New Mexico and the nation.
New Mexico Court of Appeals:
Barbara V. Johnson, Position 1
Barbara V. Johnson lives in Albuquerque and has been practicing law in New Mexico for more than 30 years. Her practice handles matters including legal separations, divorce, paternity cases, child support, asset and liability valuation and distributions, real estate, businesses, employment, retirement accounts, crime and domestic violence. She has served as the President of the New Mexico Women’s Bar Association.
Johnson possesses strong conservative values and knows the law. She believes her experience and expertise would move cases appealed from the lower courts as expeditiously and carefully as possible.
Gertrude Lee, Position 2
Gertrude Lee from Kirtland is a member of the Navajo Nation, practices law in the Navajo Nation and the State of New Mexico. Lee has dedicated her legal career to public service as a criminal prosecutor. She has served as a prosecutor in McKinley County and San Juan County, New Mexico, and served as the Chief Prosecutor of the Navajo Nation.
Lee worked for six and half years with the 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Division 2, in Gallup, where she started as an associate trial attorney and worked her way up to Deputy District Attorney.
Thomas C. Montoya, Position 3
Mr. Montoya, born and raised in New Mexico, has been practicing divorce and family law for more than 38 years. He has an “A” preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings. He’s been named in Southwest Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America and Best of the Bar for Family Law by New Mexico Business Weekly. Mr. Montoya has also lobbied and testified more than 30 times on family law legislation and has acted as appellate counsel in a dozen cases.
If you want to request an interview with any of these judicial candidates, please email Giovanna Eisberg, State Judicial Political Director at: [email protected]
