Charley v. Johnson

OPINION

{1} This election challenge case presents us with the opportunity to discuss the intent and importance of our recent amendments to Rule 1-096 NMRA, the civil procedure rule governing district court actions to challenge nominating petitions. The district court ruled in favor of Plaintiffs, who challenged the sufficiency and validity of Kerby Johnson’s nominating petitions for magistrate court judge in San Juan County. The court ordered the county clerk to not place Johnson’s name on the ballot. Johnson then appealed to this Court. After hearing oral argument, we ruled from the bench in…