From the Office of New Mexico Public Defender Commission:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Defender Commission has unanimously elected Gina Maestas to serve as chair. The Commission selects the state’s Chief Public Defender and provides guidance in the mission and administration of the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD).

The LOPD employs more than 400 New Mexicans in the service of providing counsel to indigent people charged with crimes in the state’s courts. The independent state agency most recently received a $77.1 million budget to operate 13 offices across the state and to coordinate a network of more than 100 contract attorneys.

Maestas is a University of New Mexico School of Law alumna, class of 1986. Early in her career she practiced as a public defense appellate attorney. She then served as Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts and as Chief Staff Attorney and Chief Clerk of the New Mexico Court of Appeals. She now resides in Albuquerque with her husband.

“I am honored to have been elected by my fellow commissioners to serve as Chair. I look forward to leading the Commission’s efforts to support the outstanding and dedicated attorneys and staff of the LOPD as they continue to provide excellent representation of their clients,” Maestas said.

Maestas was appointed to the commission in 2022 and has since served as member at large. She is the first Hispanic female to chair the Commission.