GOP picks deputy district attorney to run for judge

The Republican Party has selected Senior Deputy District Attorney Janetta Hicks to run for district judge in November.

Local members of the party’s state central committee voted at a meeting Saturday morning to place Hicks, 42, on the ballot. The position is vacant because of the death last week of District Judge Silvia Cano-Garcia.

Longtime Las Cruces attorney Jim Reeves was the only other candidate nominated for the position at Saturday’s meeting. He stressed to the group that its members should select “somebody who has the credentials and will be strong enough to win against what I know will be a strong (Democratic) candidate.”

“The question is, who can win?” he said.

Hicks has worked on several campaigns in the past, including those of her boss, District Attorney Susana Martinez, and that of Cano-Garcia.

“I know how to run a campaign, and I can hit the ground running,” Hicks said.

District Judge Doug Driggers is moving from the court’s domestic relations division to the criminal division to take Cano-Garcia’s place. Judge Michael Murphy is moving from the children’s court division to domestic relations. Because of that, the open judgeship is in the children’s court.

Hicks has been an attorney for 17 years and currently supervises the DWI unit at the district attorney’s office. She has worked as a children’s court attorney for the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department, and has supervised the juvenile unit in the district attorney’s office. She said she is well-qualified for the position.

Hicks said she wishes the two parties didn’t have to start working to replace Cano-Garcia this quickly.

“I wish we had some time to mourn her before we make this decision but, unfortunately, the deadlines require us to make these decisions today,” she said. “I have the experience to do this job.”

Martinez agreed.

“Janetta would be a good judge,” she said. “She understands the system and can begin hearing cases immediately. She understands the need for quick and fair justice when juveniles are involved. She understands the need for swift action to prevent future abuse and maintain healthy families.”

The deadline to place candidates on the ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Democratic Party plans to meet Monday at 6 p.m. to choose its candidate.

Democrats who have expressed interest in the position include Terri Abernathy, William “Rusty” Babington, Rosanne Camuñez, Fred Kennon, Evangeline Mercado, Lisa Schultz, Beverly Singleman and Greg Valdez.

Joyce Montes, who was considered early last week as a favorite for the Democratic Party nomination, has decided she is not interested, sources tell me.