Zamora beats Hanisee to take NM Appeals Court seat

District Judge Monica Zamora of Albuquerque has been elected to the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

Zamora, a Democrat, defeated sitting Court of Appeals Judge Miles Hanisee. She has 55 percent of the vote compared with Hanisee's 45 percent.

Zamora is a graduate of the University of New Mexico's law school. She worked as an attorney for 25 years before becoming a judge in the children's court division of the 2nd Judicial District in 2005.

Hanisee is a former federal prosecutor. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez appointed him to the court last year.

Hanisee had a private law practice in Albuquerque before serving on the court, which handles cases appealed from trial courts and some administrative decisions by government agencies.