ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) - A city attorney in New Mexico was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the judicial district court in Chaves County, the governor said.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham named Roswell attorney Jared Kallunki, 44, to fill the Division VII seat in the 5th Judicial District, the Roswell Daily Record reported Wednesday.
“It feels good, but I know there are a lot of people who need to feel confident in justice, and so there is a heavy responsibility. So I feel like I need to work hard and live up to the trust that has been placed in me,” Kallunki said.
The seat was previously held by Kea Riggs who resigned in December after being sworn in as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court of New Mexico.
It is unclear when Kallunki will be sworn in.
Kallunki must run in November to retain his new position for a full six-year term, court authorities said. The position pays an annual salary of $133,757, authorities said.
Kallunki moved to Roswell in 2008 and has held multiple legal and city positions. He most recently worked for the public defender’s office since 2017.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.