Deputy District Attorney Brett Loveless has been named to the bench of the Second Judicial District Court by Gov. Susana Martinez.

The governor’s office announced the appointment this afternoon.

Loveless will take the position formerly held by District Judge Neil Candelaria who retired on Jan. 1.

A graduate of the University of New Mexico law school, Loveless previously was in private practice as a litigation attorney working cases involving law enforcement, criminal law, Indian gaming and civil rights, according to the governor’s office.

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