I have been a resident of Socorro County since 1988, when my family moved here with my late husband, Bill Holcomb, who worked for AT&T. We raised our children here and became active members of the community. I have been an attorney licensed to practice here since 1990. I was a Domestic Violence Commissioner in the 7th Judicial Court here for 12 years while being an Associate Professor at New Mexico Tech. I was elected twice as a member of the board of the Socorro Electric Cooperative, as well as having been appointed by the Governor to the New Mexico Human Rights Commission. My decades of legal experience as well as a commitment to Socorro County make me uniquely qualified to be the next Magistrate Judge.
It is essential for the integrity of the Magistrate Court that the judge is considered fair and impartial. Every effort must be made to avoid even the appearance of an impropriety. Having served as a commission in both domestic violence cases and human rights cases, I have the skills and integrity to uphold these values. In a small court it is also essential for the judge to maintain connections to the state judicial committees and resources to understand how to best manage the court and cases. I am looking forward to working with judicial committees to be sure the Socorro County Magistrate Court has access to the most up-to-date support systems and programs for the benefit of the community members who are my neighbors and friends.
While I do not presently have knowledge of detailed court procedures and efficiencies, I will bring broad management experience to the position. I have previous management experience at AT&T, Ford Motor Company and Boeing (McDonnell Douglas). My career at New Mexico Tech involved both teaching management and information technology policy courses. This diverse background gives me the skills to evaluate court operations and consider how to monitor appropriate benchmarks for performance. It is essential the court maintains accurate statistics on cases and outcomes so the community can understand the court's operation. As the judge, I would be sure court staff was well trained and work to get access to available state resources.
I would like to thank my supporters for the opportunity to run for Magistrate Judge in the upcoming general election. My background and experience offer Socorro County the best opportunity to move forward and look for resources to address the issues confronting us. I would seek to join the New Mexico Supreme Court Committees, Boards and Commissions with representation for Magistrate Judges to best understand how to perform as the Magistrate Judge for the benefit of this community.
I am qualified for this office because I have served three consecutive terms as the Magistrate Judge and have taken numerous classes through New Mexico Court Education Institute, as well as the National Judicial College. I feel that I am well qualified and have proven my ability to handle the Magistrate Judge position, making decisions that affect the lives of individuals with respect and fairness while applying court rules and State statutes.
One of the major challenges is staying up to date with court rules and constantly changing laws, while also continuing to pursue further education through the National Judicial College. Additionally, it is a very busy court, adjudicating close to three thousand cases in a single year.
Public defenders are overwhelmed, and the state would need to address this issue by hiring more attorneys to ensure cases are handled more efficiently and without delays. Also, courts could improve overall efficiency by transitioning to paperless systems, following the example of jurisdictions that have already adopted digital processes to handle case management.
I am 64 years old, born in Belen, NM, and raised by my grandparents, Martin and Clarita Lopez, in Manzano, NM. In 1978 I enlisted in the Army National Guard and served for six years. I began my law enforcement career in 1983 as a detention officer, later becoming a deputy with the Socorro County Sheriff's Department. I was elected Socorro County Sheriff and served four terms before becoming Undersheriff in Cibola County, where I retired after 25 years in law enforcement. I have since served as a Magistrate Judge for 11 years. I will continue to serve the public to best of my ability and remain fair, firm and consistent.
