New Mexico Second Judicial District Court, Division XIX
Background Diana Garcia is a district court judge in Division XIX of the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque. She presides over the specialized Children’s Court division. She handles cases involving juvenile delinquency, abuse and neglect, adoptions, guardianships, and crossover youth involved in both systems. She is a 14th-generation New Mexican.
Prior Experience For 18 years prior to her appointment, Garcia served as a prosecutor in the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. This included service as Supervising Deputy District Attorney of the Juvenile Division. Her work focused on juvenile justice, child welfare, and the prosecution of delinquency and abuse and neglect matters.
Appointment & Current Role A Democrat and a 2023 EMERGE NM Alum, she was appointed to the bench on March 25, 2024, by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Benjamin Chavez. She was sworn in shortly thereafter.
Election Status She is running in the 2026 election cycle. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026, and the general election for November 3, 2026.
Sources / Links:
- Keep Judge Diana Garcia campaign site: https://keepjudgegarcia.com/
- Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Diana_Garcia_(New_Mexico)
- Governor’s Appointment Announcement: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/03/25/governor-appoints-diana-garcia-to-2nd-judicial-district-court/
- Second Judicial District Court (Children’s Court Judges): https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/childrens-court-judges/
- ABQ Journal Opinion Piece: https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/opinion-my-brightest-days-as-a-childrens-court-judge/2997891
- Bernalillo County DA Announcement: https://www.facebook.com/berncoda/posts/congratulations-diana-garciadiana-garcia-is-now-a-district-court-judge-in-the-se/868381895319814/




















































