The Office of the Governor of the State of New Mexico
04/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/01/2026 15:11
Governor appoints John Bernitz to Eleventh Judicial District
Governor appoints John Bernitz to Eleventh Judicial District
Apr 1, 2026| Press Releases
SANTA FE - Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today the appointment of John William Bernitz as the Eleventh Judicial District Attorney, Division II, serving McKinley County.
Bernitz's appointment is effective immediately and will last until the next general election as provided by law.
Bernitz currently serves as Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Office of the District Attorney, Eleventh Judicial District, a position he has held since October 2025. He previously operated the Law Office of John Bernitz in Gallup from 2021 to 2023, handling criminal and family law matters.
Bernitz has served in multiple roles within the Eleventh Judicial District Attorney's Office since 2007, including as senior trial attorney, deputy district attorney, and chief deputy district attorney. He also served as an assistant district attorney in the Sixth Judicial District in Hidalgo County and the Twelfth Judicial District in Otero County, and as an assistant public defender with the Law Office of the Public Defender in Gallup from 2012 to 2019.
Bernitz earned his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego in 2004 and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from San Diego State University in 1981.
The Office of the Governor of the State of New Mexico published this content on April 01, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 01, 2026 at 21:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]