Judge Gerald E. Baca/Courtesy photo

COURT OF APPEALS NEWS

Judge Gerald E. Baca was sworn into office Friday as a judge of the state Court of Appeals.

In a virtual ceremony, Judge Baca took the oath of office in a courtroom at the San Miguel County Courthouse. Chief Justice Michael Vigil administered the oath from his office in the Supreme Court Building in Santa Fe.

In remarks after the ceremony, Judge Baca said all judges “are trying to do the best we can for the citizens of New Mexico … and do justice. That’s my intent at the Court of Appeals — to do justice.”

Judge Baca has served on the Fourth Judicial District Court since May 2013. He became the district’s acting chief judge in November 2017 and permanently assumed the position in April 2018. He also served on the district court in 2007-2009. The district covers San Miguel, Mora and Guadalupe counties.

Judge Baca received his law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1987, and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from New Mexico Highlands University in 1984.

He has worked in the private practice of law in Las Vegas, and was a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office in the Fourth and First Judicial Districts.

Court staff and judges presented Judge Baca with an engraved baseball and bat congratulating him on the Court of Appeals judgeship and thanking him for his leadership and public service. Among his hobbies and interests, Judge Baca is a baseball fan and serves as a referee and umpire for high school baseball, basketball, soccer and wrestling.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Judge Baca to the Court of Appeals, filling a vacancy created by Justice Julie Vargas’ appointment to the state Supreme Court.