ALBUQUERQUE — Judges from across the state and leaders from the National Bar Association gathered at an event on Feb. 27 to announce the incorporation of the first Black Judicial Council in New Mexico, marking a significant step in promoting diversity, equity, and representation within the state's judiciary.
"African American Judges have and continue to give honorable service to the Courts of New Mexico. They have yet to gain appointment or election to our Supreme Court nor any federal Courts. This is a void we hope to fill in the coming years," said retired Judge Tommy Jewell, who made history in 1984 as New Mexico's first African American judge and served on the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court before joining the Second Judicial District Court, where he presided for 18 years.
A Mission Rooted in Support and Advocacy
The Council will work to support Black judges while fostering dialogue, mentorship, and professional development. Its mission includes:
- Recruiting, retaining, and sustaining Black Judges on the various judicial benches of New Mexico;
- Speaking to and addressing the challenges that confront Black Judges in their service to the judicial system; and
- Serving as a catalyst for the recognition of the importance of their presence in our systems of justice.
"The creation of this Council represents a meaningful and long-overdue milestone," said NM Court of Appeals Judge Shammara Henderson, the first African American Judge to serve on the state's appellate court. "It provides a dedicated forum to elevate perspectives, share experiences, and help ensure that our judicial system reflects the diversity of the people it serves."
"This is a void we hope to fill in the coming years." — Retired Judge Tommy Jewell
The Council's founding builds on decades of individual advocacy from Black judges across New Mexico, now united under a single organization dedicated to their shared mission.