10/31/2024
Two NMBLA members are on the 2024 NM ballot: Court of Appeals Judge Shammara Henderson and Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Shonnetta Estrada. Thank you for highlighting the importance of a diverse bench! Repost from
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⚖️🗳️🏛 In the 2024 General Election, 39 New Mexico judges are on the ballot, either for retention, election or re-election. New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative believes in advocating for diversity within our local courts and educating voters on the judicial retention and re-election process in our state.
As The Brennan Center for Justice notes, “Bringing a range of experiences and perspectives to bear allows judges to make better informed decisions and increases public confidence in their rulings. Unfortunately today, neither state nor federal courts reflect the diversity of the communities they are supposed to serve.”
Today, New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative’s Diversity on the Bench Spotlight calls attention to two examples of this local judicial diversity: the retention election of Judge Shammara Henderson, who is running for re-election for judge of the New Mexico Court of Appeals; and the first election for Judge Shonnetta Estrada—who was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in November 2022—for Division XI judge of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.
Via BallotPedia: “[In the state of New Mexico,] if no candidate files to run against the current incumbent, the next election will be a retention election. If more than one candidate files, then a partisan election will take place. New Mexico also requires at least 57% of voters to vote yes for a judge to win a retention election.” ⚖️🗳️🏛
Learn more about Judge Henderson via the New Mexico Judicial Performance Commission (JPEC) at: bit.ly/jpechenderson.
Learn more about Judge Estrada at: keepjudgeestrada.com.
In 1982, four Black attorneys filled a void in the New Mexico legal community.
