Copyright © 2022 Albuquerque Journal
A total of 14 attorneys are vying for Bernalillo County district attorney with the addition of four new applicants since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham extended the application deadline through Friday.
New applicants include Alexander Flores, an assistant U.S. attorney; Brianne Bigej, general counsel for the New Mexico Department of Corrections; and Matthias Swonger, supervising attorney for the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender, Albuquerque felony division.
Another recent applicant is Steven S. Suttle, who worked for 14 years in the Attorney General’s Office before retiring in 2010.
Lujan Grisham is considering candidates to replace outgoing 2nd Judicial District Attorney Raúl Torrez, who will take office Jan. 1 as New Mexico attorney general.
“Interviews are taking place and an appointment will be made expeditiously,” said Nora Meyers Sackett, spokeswoman for the Governor’s Office.
Others who have submitted applications include Sam Bregman, a prominent Albuquerque defense attorney, and Damon Martinez, who served as U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico from 2014 to 2017 and now serves as the Albuquerque Police Department’s chief policy adviser.
Three current deputy DAs also submitted applications: John Duran, deputy district attorney for the major crimes division; Diana Garcia, deputy district attorney in the juvenile division; and Joshua Boone, deputy district attorney for the metropolitan division.
Others who submitted applications for the post are:
⋄ Evan Cochnar, an attorney for the New Mexico General Services Department, risk management division. He previously served as a prosecutor in the 2nd and 11th Judicial Districts.
⋄ Joseph Gandert, an Albuquerque attorney.
⋄ Edmund Perea, senior litigator for Edmund Perea Law Firm.
⋄ Ashley Schweizer, an assistant attorney general.
⋄ Joseph Gribble, an Albuquerque attorney.
