New Mexico appellate judge retiring after almost 19 years

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A New Mexico appellate judge has announced that he is retiring after serving on the bench for almost 19 years.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Judge Jonathan Sutin will step down at the end of the month.

Sutin was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Gary Johnson in 1999 following in the footsteps of his father, Lewis, who served on the Court of Appeals from 1971-82.

Although he loves working on the Court of Appeals, the 79-year-old jurist says it’s time to retire.

He says he plans to finish writing a book about his father.

With Sutin’s retirement, Gov. Susana Martinez will need to make a short-term judicial appointment.

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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com