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Commission also releases biographical information on one Court of Appeals judge it has not had sufficient time to evaluate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 13, 2023
SANTA FE–The New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC) has appointed veteran law enforcement officer Phillip Francisco as its newest member.
Francisco, who has more than 24 years of law enforcement experience, currently serves as chief of police in Bloomfield, New Mexico. His prior experience includes more than five years as chief of police of the Navajo Nation Police Department. In addition, he served for nearly two years as a police officer and field training officer with the Farmington (New Mexico) Police Department; more than 13 years as a patrol officer, supervisor and DWI Traffic Unit officer with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department; and more than two years as a patrol officer with the City of Aztec Police Department.
Francisco was a specialist and team leader in the U.S. Army for nearly four years, where he was posted at Fort Hood, Texas, and Camp Carol, Korea. In addition, he served in the U.S. Army National Guard as a Platoon Leader 2nd Lieutenant/Military Police officer for nearly four years.
Francisco earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Police Science from San Juan College. He has completed training and certifications at the FBI National Academy, the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Bureau.
He previously served as Vice Chair of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Indian Country Section, Chair of the Navajo Nation Peace Officer Standards Training and received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hero Award in 2006.
NMJPEC was established by the Supreme Court of New Mexico in 1997 as a volunteer, nonpartisan commission to improve the performance of New Mexico’s judges and provide useful, credible information to voters on judges standing for retention in general elections. Under state law, judges standing for retention must receive 57 percent voter approval to remain on the bench.
The New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission is comprised of 15 individuals – seven lawyers and eight non-lawyers – who are appointed by the Supreme Court to staggered terms. Members are selected from nominations made by the Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Speaker of the House, Senate President Pro Tempore, House Minority Leader, Senate Minority Leader and President of the State Bar.
For more information about the Commission, visit www.nmjpec.org
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