Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced the appointment of two new judges to New Mexico's judicial system. Matthew Chavez will serve as a judge in the Second Judicial District Court, while Brenna Clani-Washinawatok will join the Eleventh Judicial District Court.

Chavez steps into the role following the retirement of Judge Stan Whitaker. He is currently Chief Legal Counsel for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety under Secretary Jason Bowie and has experience as a public defender in Albuquerque. Chavez is an alumnus of the University of New Mexico School of Law and joined the bar in 2012.

Clani-Washinawatok takes over from Judge Daylene Marsh after her retirement. She works as a Child Support Hearing Officer and has been providing legal counsel to the Child Support Services Division within the New Mexico Health Care Authority for more than ten years. She also graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law and was admitted to practice law in 2005.

Chavez will begin his duties on March 15, while Clani-Washinawatok starts her role on March 1.