Mary Marlowe Sommer
Mary Marlowe Sommer was a judge of the New Mexico 1st Judicial District Court. She left office on May 31, 2025.
Sommer was appointed to the First Judicial District of New Mexico by former Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson on March 30, 2010, and was elected in November of that year.[1] Sommer was retained in 2014.[2]
Biography
Sommer graduated from Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. She received undergraduate degrees from Regis College and James Madison University. She received her J.D. from George Mason School of Law in 1983. Sommer was also an assistant attorney general with the state Attorney General’s Office and a law clerk with the U.S. Department of Justice.[3]
Elections
2014
See also: New Mexico judicial elections, 2014
Sommer was retained to the 1st District Court with 80.8 percent of the vote on November 4, 2014.
Judicial performance evaluation
The New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission recommended that Judge Sommer be retained. The full report is available here.
2010
Marlowe was elected to the district court in 2010. She defeated Margaret Kegel and Gary D. Elion in the Democratic primary, winning 56.9% of the vote and ran unopposed in the general election receiving 100% of the vote.
- See also: New Mexico judicial elections, 2010
Endorsements
Marlowe was endorsed by the Rio Grande Sun.[4]
Career
- 2010-present: Judge, New Mexico First Judicial District Court
- 2008-2010: Domestic relations hearing officer, First Judicial District
- 1986-2008: Partner, Marlowe Law Firm
- 1984-1986: Assistant attorney general, New Mexico
- 1983-1984: Production assistant, The McLaughlin Group
- 1981-1983: Law clerk, National Association of Manufacturers
- 1979-1980: Law clerk, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division[3]
Noteworthy events
Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter case
On January 19, 2024, actor Alec Baldwin was indicted and charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins was killed in 2021 after Baldwin’s prop gun fired a live round of ammunition on set. Sommer presided over the case.[5]
On July 12, 2024, Sommer dismissed the case based on misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defense. “The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” Marlowe Sommer said. The case cannot be filed again.[6]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ msn.com, "Who Is Mary Marlowe Sommer? Judge Dismisses Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Case," accessed July 16, 2024
- ↑ Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, "The Honorable Mary Marlowe Sommer," accessed July 16, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Albuquerque Journal, "Governor Names Judge for New Seat on 1st Judicial District Court," accessed July 16, 2024
- ↑ Rio Grande Sun "Court Picks For June Primary," May 20, 2010
- ↑ NBC News, "Alec Baldwin indicted on involuntary manslaughter charge in 'Rust' shooting," accessed July 16, 2024
- ↑ The Associated Press, "Alec Baldwin weeps in court as judge announces involuntary manslaughter case is dismissed midtrial," accessed July 16, 2024
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Mexico • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Mexico
State courts:
New Mexico Supreme Court • New Mexico Court of Appeals • New Mexico District Courts • New Mexico Magistrate Court • New Mexico Municipal Courts • New Mexico Probate Courts • New Mexico Problem-Solving Courts • New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration Court • Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
State resources:
Courts in New Mexico • New Mexico judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Mexico
