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Riggs, Kea Whetzal
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
Nominated by Donald J. Trump on May 13, 2019, to a seat vacated by M. Christina Armijo. Confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 2019, and received commission on December 31, 2019.
Other Federal Judicial Service:
U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, 2001-2014 (part-time)
Education:
University of Oklahoma, B.B.A., 1987
University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 1990
Professional Career:
Private practice, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1990-1991
Assistant district attorney, Third Judicial District, State of New Mexico, 1991-1993
Children's court attorney, Children, Youth and Families Department, State of New Mexico, 1993-1994
Senior trial prosecutor, Fifth Judicial District, State of New Mexico, 1994-1999
Private practice, Roswell, New Mexico, 1999-2004
Adjunct professor, Eastern New Mexico University--Roswell, 2001-2002, 2008-2009, 2012-2014
Adjunct professor, New Mexico Highlands University--Roswell, 2006-2009, 2011
Special master and mediator (part-time), self-employed, Roswell, New Mexico, 2006-2012
Judge, New Mexico District Court, Fifth Judicial District, 2014-2019