Matthew Garcia

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Matthew Garcia
Image of Matthew Garcia

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Tenure

2023 - Present

Years in position

1

Predecessor
Prior offices
Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Mexico
Successor: Courtney Kerster

Education

Bachelor's

The University of New Mexico

Graduate

Harvard University

Law

The University of New Mexico


Matthew Garcia is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.[1] He was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on July 14, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on February 14, 2023, by a vote of 53 - 46.[2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

Garcia was the chief of staff for the gubernatorial administration of Michelle Lujan Grisham (D). Gov. Lujan Grisham appointed him interim chief of staff on October 5, 2020.[3] Garcia became the permanent chief of staff on November 12, 2020, when John Bingaman resigned.[4] He left the position in September 2022.[5]

The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (2023-Present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On July 14, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Garcia to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.[6] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here. The U.S. Senate confirmed Garcia by a vote of 53 - 46 on February 14, 2023.[2] He received commission on February 21, 2023.[1]

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Matthew Garcia
Court: United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Progress
Confirmed 215 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: July 14, 2022
ApprovedAABA Rating: Well qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: October 12, 2022
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: February 2, 2023 
ApprovedAConfirmed: February 14, 2023
ApprovedAVote: 53 - 46


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Garcia by a vote of 53 - 46 on February 14, 2023.[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, SENATE.GOV click here.

Matthew Garcia confirmation vote (February 14, 2023)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 47 0 1
Ends.png Republican 3 46 0
Grey.png Independent 3 0 0
Total 53 46 1

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Garcia's nomination on October 12, 2022. Garcia was reported to the full Senate on December 1, 2022, after a 12-10 committee vote.[7]

Garcia's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[8] The president renominated Garcia on the same day.[9] In a committee hearing on February 2, 2023, Garcia was reported to the full Senate, after a 11-9 committee vote.[10]


Nomination

Garcia was nominated on July 14, 2022, to replace Judge Judith Herrera, who assumed senior status on July 1, 2019.[6]

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Garcia well qualified.[11] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Garcia's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[12] The president renominated Garcia on the same day.[9]

Biography

Education

Garcia obtained a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of New Mexico in 1999, an M.P.P. from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2003, and a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2005.[13] He was also a Fulbright Fellow at the Helsinki School of Economics.[14]

Professional career

Michelle Lujan Grisham chief of staff

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 		Is this person no longer a chief of staff? Please contact us with any updates.

On October 5, 2020, former Chief of Staff John Bingaman announced that he would be taking a leave of absence. Gov. Lujan Grisham appointed Garcia interim chief of staff the same day.[3] Garcia became the permanent chief of staff on November 12, 2020, when John Bingaman resigned.[4] He left the position in September 2022.[5]

Chief of staff

See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
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In 2020, Ballotpedia identified Matthew Garcia as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.

The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by each administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[15]

  • Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
  • Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
  • Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
  • Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.

In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff, and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[15]

About the court

District of New Mexico
Tenth Circuit
Great seal of the United States.png
Judgeships
Posts: 7
Judges: 7
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: William P. Johnson
Active judges: James O. Browning, Matthew Garcia, Kenneth John Gonzales, David Herrera Urias, William P. Johnson, Kea Riggs, Margaret Strickland

Senior judges:
Christina Armijo, Robert Brack, Curtis Hansen, Judith Herrera, Martha Vazquez


The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courtrooms in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, and Roswell, N.M. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in downtown Denver, Colorado at the Byron White Federal Courthouse.


The District of New Mexico has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The jurisdiction of the District of New Mexico consists of all the counties in the state of New Mexico.

Court is held in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Roswell, Santa Fe, and Silver City.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Federal Judicial Center, "Garcia, Matthew Lane," accessed February 21, 2023
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Congress.gov, "PN72 — Matthew L. Garcia — The Judiciary," February 14, 2023
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "SantaFeNewMexican.com" "Lujan Grisham's chief of staff to advise governor on Biden efforts," accessed October 16, 2020
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Office of the Governor, "Governor’s Office shifts leadership," November 12, 2020
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Office of the Governor, "Governor’s office announces new interim leadership," September 9, 2022
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Congress.gov, "PN2382 — Matthew L. Garcia — The Judiciary," accessed July 18, 2022
  7. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 1, 2022," December 1, 2022
  8. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Congress.gov, "PN72 — Matthew L. Garcia — The Judiciary," accessed January 6, 2023
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named vote2
  11. ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117TH CONGRESS," last updated October 11, 2022
  12. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nom
  14. ↑ LinkedIn, "Matthew Garcia", accessed October 26, 2020
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 National Governors Association, "The Many Roles of the Governor’s Chief of Staff," accessed April 20, 2021

Political offices
Preceded by
Judith Herrera 		United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
2023-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Mexico
2020-2022		 Succeeded by
Courtney Kerster (D)
v • e
Influencers
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By state

New Mexico courts

Federal courts:

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Mexico • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Mexico

State courts:

New Mexico Supreme Court • New Mexico Court of Appeals • New Mexico District Courts • New Mexico Magistrate Court • New Mexico Municipal Courts • New Mexico Probate Courts • New Mexico Problem-Solving Courts • New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration Court • Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court

State resources:

Courts in New Mexico • New Mexico judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Mexico


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