Matthew L. Garcia | |
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| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of New Mexico | |
| Assumed office February 21, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Judith C. Herrera |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Lane Garcia 1974 (age 50–51)[1] Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Education | University of New Mexico (BA,JD) Harvard University (MPP) Helsinki School of Economics |
Matthew Lane Garcia (born 1974)[2] is an American lawyer fromNew Mexico who is serving as aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of New Mexico.
Garcia received aBachelor of Arts,magna cum laude, from theUniversity of New Mexico in 1999, aMaster of Public Policy fromHarvard Kennedy School in 2003 and aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of New Mexico School of Law in 2005.[3] Garcia received aFulbright Scholarship to study at theHelsinki School of Economics inFinland.[1]
From 2006 to 2008, Garcia was anassociate at Freedman Boyd Daniels Hollander Goldberg & Ives inAlbuquerque, New Mexico. From 2009 to 2012, he was apartner at Bach & Garcia in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From 2012 to 2018, he was a partner at Garcia Ives Nowara in Albuquerque. He was general counsel toNew Mexico GovernorMichelle Lujan Grisham from 2019 to 2020. He was appointed as interim chief of staff on October 5, 2020 by the governor,[4] and was named permanent chief of staff on November 12, 2020, after his predecessor, John Bingaman, resigned.[3][5] Garcia has worked as anadjunct professor at theUniversity of New Mexico School of Law.[2]
In 2006, Garcia represented state auditor candidateHector Balderas, who petitioned to replace the previous Democratic Party candidate on the ballot. Petitioners Barbara Johnson, Roger Gonzales, and the Republican Party of New Mexico made three separate challenges to the upcoming 2006 general election ballot. While each petitioner relied on different arguments, all three asserted that the Secretary of State erred in including or excluding certain candidates from the 2006 general election ballot. Balderas would later become theNew Mexico Attorney General.[6]
In 2014, Garcia represented theACLU of New Mexico asamicus curiae in a suit against theNew Mexico Department of Children, Youth, and Families.[7][8]
In 2016, Garcia argued before theNew Mexico Supreme Court seeking to maintain aWhistleblower Protection Act claim against former secretary of stateMary Herrera; she served as the secretary of state from January 2007 until January 2011. On January 1, 2007, Herrera appointed Manny Vildasol as an office administrator. During his tenure, Vildasol suspected that secretary of state staff misused public funds and that Herrera violated election laws. Vildasol reported the suspected misconduct to theFederal Bureau of Investigation and the New Mexico Attorney General's Office. On September 4, 2010, Vildasol received a letter from Herrera terminating his employment.[9]
In 2020, Garcia successfully defended the state's emergency authority and pandemic restrictions before theNew Mexico Supreme Court in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[10]
On July 14, 2022, PresidentJoe Biden nominated Garcia to serve as aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of New Mexico.[3] President Biden nominated Garcia to the seat vacated by JudgeJudith C. Herrera, who assumedsenior status on July 1, 2019.[11] On October 12, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[12] On December 1, 2022, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.[13] On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the President underRule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of theUnited States Senate; he was renominated later the same day.[14] On February 2, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–9 vote.[15] On February 14, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 54–45 vote.[16] That same day, his nomination was confirmed by a 53–46 vote.[17] He received his judicial commission on February 21, 2023.[18] He was sworn in on February 23, 2023.[19]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of New Mexico 2023–present | Incumbent |