Liliana Castillo
Curry County still has two magistrate court judges. But this election, voters will only have a chance to vote for the one that lives in their division.
County commissioners, under court order to adopt an ordinance dividing magistrate elections into two divisions created on the basis of racial demographics, approved the change last year.
Voters in precincts in Division 1 will choose between the two Division 1 candidates, Incumbent Republican Duane Castelberry and Democrat candidate Johnny Chavez. Division 2 voters will choose between Incumbent Republican Richard Hollis and Democrat candidate Genaro Soto.
Magistrate judges perform marriages, hear misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors, have jurisdiction over motor vehicle code violations, contracts and civil actions where the debt or claim does not exceed $10,000.
