Judge Sarah Singelton

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Retired First Judicial District Court Judge Sarah Singelton has died.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement today on her death:

“I am incredibly saddened to hear of Judge Sarah Singleton’s passing. Judge Singleton was a dedicated jurist and highly respected member of the community. The first New Mexico judge to rule in favor of marriage equality, she was committed to fairness, equity, and justice and leaves a legacy that will be remembered for many years to come. My thoughts and prayers are with Judge Singleton’s family and friends.”

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver also released a statement today:

 “Judge Sarah Singelton was a distinguished jurist and I’m deeply saddened to hear of her passing. While she may be most recently remembered for her landmark rulings on marriage equality and in the Yazzie vs. Martinez case, Judge Singleton was a dedicated public servant with decades of experience who committed her life to jurisprudence in New Mexico. My thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time.”

Singleton was first appointed to the bench by Gov. Bill Richardson in 2009 and retired in August 2017

Singleton worked in the appellate division of the New Mexico Public Defender’s Office from 1974 to 1976, serving as the acting appellate defender in 1976. Her professional experience also included work as a founding partner of Pickard & Singleton, the owner of the Singleton Law Offices, and a partner at Montgomery & Andrews.