James A. Noel

Professional career

• Appointed to Division V of New Mexico’s Thirteenth Judicial District Court on February 28, 2020, succeeding retired Judge Louis P. McDonald
• He has a diverse legal and administrative background, having held the role of cabinet secretary for the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department under Governor Bill Richardson and as executive director of the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission from 2004 to 2009 He also held positions as Court Executive Officer and Court Clerk in the Second Judicial District starting in 2015, and previously served as assistant attorney general and general counsel for the Office of the State Auditor
• Before taking the bench, he held the role of court executive officer and clerk of the Second Judicial District Court, beginning in 2015, and as executive director of the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission — 2004–2009
• Judge James Andrew Noel was appointed to the 13th Judicial District, Division V, by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Louis P. McDonald
• His earlier public service included secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, general counsel for the State Auditor’s Office and assistant attorney general work

Education

Additional information

• The cited overview and attorney directory list an Indiana University B.A. in 1985 and M.B.A. in 1988, followed by a University of New Mexico J.D. in 2000 and New Mexico bar admission that year