Judicial Selection Committee

“The composition of the Commission is set forth below, with our indication of the authority making the appointments to the Commission:

1.  Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or Designee appointed by the Chief Justice 
2.  Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals or Designee appointed by the Chief Judge (except on Metropolitan Court Commissions)
3. Chief Judge of the District Court where the vacancy exists or Designee appointed by the Chief Judge
4. Chief Judge of the Metropolitan Court where the vacancy exists or Designee appointed by the Chief Judge (if a Metropolitan Court Commission)
5. Attorney appointed by the Governor
6. Non-Lawyer appointed by the Governor
7. Attorney appointed by the Speaker of the House
8. Non-Lawyer appointed by the Speaker of the House
9. Attorney appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate
10. Non-Lawyer appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate

In addition, attorneys are appointed by the State Bar President in consultation with the Judges on the Commission to achieve political parity among the Commissioners. The Commission membership must include an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, and should reflect diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity, and type of practice. The State Bar President, in consultation with the Judges, ensures that his/her appointments include civil plaintiff and defense lawyers as well as criminal prosecution and defense attorneys. The attorneys and lay persons serving on the Commission must reside in the judicial district where the vacancy occurs.”

http://lawschool.unm.edu/judsel/process/commissioners.php

Therefore, in order for a citizen to be appointed to the selection committee, you would have to know either the Governor, the President Pro Tem of the Senate or the Speaker of the House. How is that not political? Also only three of the ten-member commission is not lawyers.

I still put my trust in the voting public when it comes to picking a candidate for a judicial position. Open elections are far better than selection by secretive groups that have no interest in protecting the rights of the voting public. Lawyers are interested in primarily protecting their own not the voting public. Politicians are also only interest in protecting the people that are represented by lobbyists.