New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court, Division VI
Background Brenna Clani-Washinawatok is a district court judge in Division VI of the New Mexico Eleventh Judicial District Court, based in Aztec. She was born in Shiprock and raised in Gallup.
Education She earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and graduated magna cum laude from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2005.
Prior Experience Prior to her appointment, Clani-Washinawatok served as a Child Support Hearing Officer, Domestic Violence Commissioner, and Domestic Relations Hearing Officer for the Eleventh Judicial District since 2022. She previously worked as an attorney for the New Mexico Health Care Authority’s Child Support Services Division, the District Attorney’s Office, the Navajo Nation Department of Justice, and as a senior policy analyst for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.
Appointment & Current Role A Democrat and a 2025 EMERGE NM Alum, she was appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in February 2025 to succeed retired Judge Daylene Marsh. She was sworn in on April 25, 2025.
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:
- Emerge New Mexico Alums (Class of 2025): https://nm.emergeamerica.org/our-alums/
- Governor’s Appointment Announcement: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/02/28/governor-announces-two-judicial-appointments/
- Eleventh Judicial District Court Judges: https://eleventhdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/district-courts/san-juan-county-aztec-farmington-district-court/
- The Journal (Tri-City Record) Swearing-In: https://www.the-journal.com/articles/first-native-american-district-judge-sworn-in-on-friday/
- KRQE News: https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/first-native-american-district-court-judge-named-to-san-juan-and-mckinley-counties/




















































