BREAKING NEWS: Schultz appointed to judgeship

Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Democrat Lisa Schultz today to fill the district judge vacancy created by the recent death of Silvia Cano-Garcia.

Richardson was already coming to Las Cruces Thursday for a 1 p.m. swearing-in of newly appointed District Judge Fernando Macias. Schultz, who had already been in the process of closing her law practice, will be sworn in at the same ceremony.

The two are the new children’s court judges, but are in fights to keep their jobs past the end of 2006. Schultz is facing Republican Janetta Hicks on Nov. 7, and Macias is facing Republican Rita Nuñez Neumann on that day.

Schultz’s appointment comes a day after a judicial nomination commission recommended her name to the governor. Neumann was the only other applicant for the position.