Rodriguez announces bid for magistrate judgeship

Democrat Maria Rodriguez, 48, of Las Cruces, has announced her candidacy for Doña Ana County Magistrate Court judge.

In a news release, the former magistrate judge cited the need for professionalism at the magistrate level as one of the key factors in her decision to try to return to office.

“It is extremely important to have competent, experienced judges at the magistrate level,” Rodriguez said. “Professionalism and high standards are essential at every level of the judiciary.”

She’ll be running for the seat currently held by Kent Wingenroth – the only magistrate judgeship in the county that’s up for grabs this year.

Rodriguez has nearly three decades of legal experience in both the private and public sector, according to the release. She has served as a paralegal in private law firms and with the offices of the U.S. attorney and federal public defender. She has worked in U.S. District Court under Judges Leslie Smith and Joe H. Galvan and as an investigator/labor-law administrator for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. She has served previously as a county magistrate judge.

She has been a presiding judge with Doña Ana Teen Court since 1999 and is a board member for the Mesilla Valley Court Appointed Special Advocates program, which works with foster children in the legal system.

“Experience matters, especially given the range of cases heard in the magistrate system,” Rodriguez said, “I’m eager to return to the bench and serve the people of our county.”