Andrea Gunderson and Ramon Maestas. (Photos courtesy of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court)
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday morning announced appointments for two new judges to the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.
Andrea Gunderson and Ramon Maestas, both of Albuquerque, will take their oaths of office on Saturday to take the bench for the court located in their hometown, the governor’s office said in a news release.
Metro Court judges handle petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor crimes; driving under the influence and domestic violence cases; and civil lawsuits involving disputes worth $10,000 or less, except for landlord-tenant cases.
Gunderson and Maestas will both work in the court’s Civil Division, according to a Metro Court news release.
“The wealth of knowledge and experience both judges bring to the Metropolitan Court bench will allow for a smooth transition as they take on some of the busiest civil dockets in the state,” Chief Judge Joshua Sánchez said in a statement.
Gunderson, the special commissioner in the Second Judicial District Children’s Court, previously worked in private practice doing criminal defense and civil litigation with a focus on child welfare.
“My work leading up to this point in my career has been an amazing adventure. I look forward to the new challenges and experiences this opportunity brings, and I intend to serve my community with pride,” Gunderson said in a written statement.
Maestas serves as chief clerk of the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Previously, he worked as deputy general counsel for the Second Judicial District Court and a felony prosecutor for the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
“It’s an honor to serve the citizens of my hometown and Bernalillo County in this new role and continue working in line with the judiciary’s mission of providing equal access to justice under the law,” Maestas said in a statement.
Both judges received their law degrees from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Gunderson is a Rio Grande High School graduate and Maestas is a Valley High School graduate.
The Metropolitan Court has a total of 19 judges who serve-four year terms. Voters will decide whether to keep Gunderson and Maestas on the bench in the 2026 election, according to the court’s retention schedule.
Parties can appeal Metro Court rulings up to the Court of Appeals or the Second Judicial District Court, depending on the case.
The two new judges will replace Linda S. Rogers and Frank A. Sedillo, who are both retiring, according to the governor’s news release.
The Legislature created the Metro Court in 1980 to merge the functions of the Albuquerque Municipal Court, Bernalillo County Magistrate Court and Small Claims Court. It’s the only court of its kind in New Mexico.
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