Keep Linda Vanzi -- New Mexico Court of Appeals

Albuquerque Journal Endorsements
Division 4: Linda M. Vanzi

District Court Judge Linda M. Vanzi brings a wealth of experience to her civil division courtroom. The Journal recommends her election. Born in Pakistan, with a roving newswire service father, she has lived in countries where the rule of law is weak; Vanzi knows firsthand the importance of an impartial court system. She has also worked out in the world where court judgments have impact, from running a restaurant to working in industrial plants to assure safety and environmental compliance. A three-time judicial nominating commission finalist, she has consistently been deemed well qualified. Vanzi emphasizes a no-nonsense civil division courtroom, and mediation as a means toward more cost-effective, quicker justice.
The Journal recommends Linda M. Vanzi.
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Albuquerque Tribune Election Endorsements: Judicial Races
Division 4 - Linda Vanzi
Original Article

Vanzi, the incumbent since March, is a sharp, knowledgeable and capable judge who can claim the best background for this position, which handles civil matters. Vanzi, a Democrat, was appointed to the position after passing muster three times before judicial nominating committees. Her experience includes clerking for former federal District Judge Ed Mechem from 1995-97, handling a variety of cases in private, civil-oriented practice since then and amassing an extensive record of professional and civic involvement. Her opponent, a former police officer, makes an impression, but his experience is better geared for a criminal docket.
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Judges Chat with Downtown Crowd
By Katy Knapp
Published: Monday, October 4, 2004

A political question-and-answer session isn't usually the first thing one would expect to find at a Downtown nightclub. Three district judges up for re-election in Bernalillo County fielded questions from young people at Sauce on Saturday. The three judges aren't running against each other and say the biggest difference between them and their opponents is qualifications.

"All three of us have gone through the judicial selection process, which is made up of a bipartisan group of 20 individuals who reviewed our qualifications," said Linda Vanzi, a civil judge in Division 4. "Our opponents just meet the minimum constitutional requirements of being 35 and an attorney for six years."

Valerie Huling, Nan Nash and Vanzi handed pamphlets out and talked to the crowd one-on-one before standing together to answer questions. "Everybody is underestimating what the young people are going to do in this election," Vanzi said. "You guys are going to make the difference."

Division 13 Judge Huling said she is worried people are only concerned with the presidential elections, not local contests in which candidates have a more immediate effect on their lives. "We appreciate that people let us speak and want to find out about what we do and who we are because we know that you will go down the ballot and vote for judges," she said. Nash, a family court judge in Division 17, clarified which cases are handled in civil court.

The court handles name changes, class-action suits, property disputes, medical malpractice, personal injury and voter ID cases. Nash told audience members they should be aware of their options if they show up to vote and are turned away because of voter ID laws. She said there is a huge push under way to have poll watchers available at poll sites for voters to talk to.

Vanzi said students can participate in local elections by signing up to be watchers.

Regarding sentencing procedures, Nash said throwing people in jail just isn't a viable option all the time. "Whatever your moral position or political position, we can't afford to just lock up all our people," she said. "We need to look at different sorts of programs."

Vanzi mentioned a progressive drug treatment program that mixes rehabilitation with punishment.

Huling said she would like to see more people take advantage of public courthouses. Anyone interested in how elected judges operate can attend court sessions open to the public.

"The courthouse belongs to you," she said. "I tell people all the time it's there."

Defend America and the League of Pissed off Voters put the event together. County Clerk Mary Herrera, Dist. 31 House Rep. candidate Michael Corwin and Public Regulation Commission candidate Jason Marks also attended.
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The Albuquerque Journal - Editorials - May 26, 2004

JOURNAL ENDORSEMENTS FOR DISTRICT COURT

Under New Mexico's judicial selection system, candidates are screened by a Judicial Selection Commission of legal professionals and laypersons. The commission forwards a list of qualified candidates to the governor for his selection. At the next election, the appointee may be challenged; thereafter, they are subject only to retention elections. Two recent appointees face primary challenges this year.

DIVISION 4, DEMOCRAT: Linda Vanzi, a civil rights attorney appointed to the Division 4 bench by Gov. Bill Richardson two months ago, has a diverse background that will serve the court well.

The Pakistan native spent her early years living in countries that lack many of the freedoms found in the United States, including access to a well-functioning legal system.

After studying English and French at Marymount College in New York, Vanzi did graduate work in biology at the University of Texas at El Paso.

After receiving her law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law, she clerked for the late Judge Edwin L. Mechem in U.S. District Court.

Though she's new to the bench, her success in private practice - in which she often represented "the little guys" against government or corporations - has prepared her well for a judgeship.

The Journal urges Democrats to select Linda Vanzi as their nominee for the Division 4 seat.

The Democratic nominee will face Republican Chris Schultz in the Nov.2 general election.
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Albuquerque Journal - March 12, 2004
Linda Vanzi, a civil rights attorney whose diverse background includes being a restaurant owner, a federal law clerk, and safety director for a border steel mill, was appointed Thursday to serve as a Bernalillo County District Court judge.

Vanzi, 47, who had been a Judicial Selection Commission finalist for the last three district court vacancies, was selected by Governor Bill Richardson.

Vanzi was born in Pakistan to a mother from Goa, India, and a journalist father from San Francisco. She said she spent the early years of her life in countries that do not enjoy the freedoms found in the United States.

In her application for the position, Vanzi said she witnessed biased justice and oppression. "From this background, I have embraced our legal system which values and promotes established principles of justice for all people" Vanzi wrote.

Besides Pakistan, where she lived until she was 12, Vanzi lived in Hong Kong, Singapore and London.

She studied English and French at Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY. She also did graduate work in biology at the University of Texas at El Paso. She earned her law degree at the University of New Mexico School of Law.

She clerked for the late U.S. District Court Judge Edwin L. Mechem, before forming her own private law firm.

Vanzi has been a volunteer for organizations including Working Classroom and the American Civil Liberties Union.
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