Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon/Photo Courtesy New Mexico Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Courts

SUPREME COURT NEWS RELEASE

Justice C. Shannon Bacon was sworn in Wednesday as Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.

She was elected to the position by her colleagues on the five-member court and will serve a term expiring in April 2024. She succeeds Justice Michael Vigil, who had served as Chief Justice since 2020.

“It is a tremendous honor to lead the Judiciary,” said Chief Justice Bacon.  “I look forward to working with the Judiciary, State Bar, and our justice partners to advance justice for all.”

The Chief Justice performs both court and administrative duties. In addition to presiding over Supreme Court hearings and conferences, the Chief Justice serves as the administrative authority over personnel, budgets and general operations of all state courts and acts as an advocate for the Judiciary on legislative, budget and other matters.

Chief Justice Bacon was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2019, and won election in 2020. Before joining the state’s highest court, she served as a judge on the Second Judicial District Court for nearly nine years and was the presiding civil judge.

In addition to her new responsibilities on the Court, Chief Justice Bacon leads the Judiciary’s efforts regarding access to justice, guardianship and conservatorship reform, eviction and foreclosure programs, and equity and justice reform.

The new Chief Justice took the oath of office during a ceremony in the Supreme Court’s courtroom in Santa Fe, which was live streamed for judges and court employees across the state.

Click here to view the Supreme Court order memorializing the election of Chief Justice Bacon.