Judith K. Nakamura
(Republican)
How have your training, professional experience, and interests prepared you to serve on this court?
As one of five Supreme Court Justices, I help resolve a wide spectrum of complex legal issues and supervise state courts. My extensive civil law experience—private, corporate and governmental—and my past service as a former Metropolitan Court and District Court criminal trial judge, is unique on our Court. My four terms as the Metropolitan Court’s Chief Judge provide invaluable court managerial skills.
What programs or changes would improve the New Mexico Supreme Court?
Difficult economic times have led to a stark diminution of judicial resources, without a corresponding decrease in cases. Improved resource availability, along with better allocation to need areas and core support staffing, can best facilitate the most important objective: improving the timely disposition of court cases. People’s lives hang in the balance when justice is delayed; my goal is to speed the process up.
What is your judicial philosophy?
My philosophy is to correctly resolve the cases that come before the Supreme Court. To do so, the Constitution is to be followed, as are laws written by our Legislators. Jurists must non-creatively and faithfully honor precedent. Fairness, punctuality, evenhandedness and respect for litigants are the philosophic hallmarks of judicial service.
What has been your greatest achievement as a judge?
My greatest achievement is the unprecedented privilege of serving at every level of our Court system, currently as a Supreme Court Justice. Along the way, I was honored by MADD as its national judge of the year for combatting DWI, I sped up and tried dozens of delayed criminal cases at District Court. I have now authored or participated in dozens of Supreme Court decisions.
