Christina Armijo

M. Christina Armijo
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office October 1, 2012
Preceded by	Bruce D. Black
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office November 12, 2001
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Seat established by 114 Stat. 2762
Personal details
Born	1951 (age 72–73) Las Vegas, New Mexico
Education	University of New Mexico (B.A.) University of New Mexico School of Law (J.D.)

Maria Christina Armijo (born 1951) is the Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Early life and education

Born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Armijo graduated from the University of New Mexico with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972 and later from University of New Mexico School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1975. Armijo's grandfather was a well-known figure in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He served as the District Attorney and then became one of the longest serving judges in the history of New Mexico, serving more than 35 years until his death in the Fourth Judicial District of New Mexico.

Legal career

Armijo was a staff attorney of Sandoval County Legal Services, New Mexico from 1976 to 1978 where she served, among others, indigent Native Americans. She was in private practice in New Mexico from 1978 to 1996. In 1996, Armijo was appointed by Governor Gary Johnson to the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Following her appointment, she won election to the seat, making her one of only a handful of Republicans to win a statewide judicial office in New Mexico, and the first Latina to serve as an appellate judge in New Mexico. While serving on the Court of Appeals, Judge Armijo authored more than 50 opinions and participated in many more. Judge Armijo's service on the Court of Appeals ended in November 2011 when she was appointed to the United States District Court.

Federal Judicial Career

In 2001, Armijo was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001 to a new seat created by 114 Stat. 2762. Armijo was confirmed by the Senate on November 6, 2001 on a Senate vote and received her commission on November 12, 2001. She became Chief Judge of the court on October 1, 2012. As Chief Judge, she received praise for steering the court through the federal budget sequestration that struck shortly after she became chief. Under her leadership, the court also worked cooperatively to consolidated the federal bankruptcy court into the Domenici federal courthouse, reportedly saving taxpayers roughly $1 million per year. During her tenure as chief, the U.S. District Court filled eight full-time magistrate judge positions and two part-time magistrate judges.

Sources

• FJC Bio