Commission meets in August on high court vacancy

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A bipartisan nominating commission meets next month to consider candidates for a state Supreme Court vacancy.

There's a July 23 deadline for lawyers to submit applications. The commission meets Aug. 7 in Santa Fe to screen candidates and make recommendations to Gov. Susana Martinez, who's getting her first chance to make an appointment to the five-member court.

Supreme Court Justice Patricio Serna is retiring at the end of August

The governor's appointee will serve at least until later this year, but the position ultimately will be filled by voters in the November general election.

An appointed judge must run in the next general election. But political parties will select their Supreme Court nominees because the vacancy occurred too late for the June primary election to determine who's on the ballot.