The Keep Judge Michael Vigil, New Mexico Court of Appeals web site is currently unavailable. Selected documents are still available as follows:
| Brief Biography | |
| Multimedia | |
| New Mexico Counties |
| Judge Michael Vigil was appointed to the New Mexico
Court of Appeals by Governor Bill Richardson. He took the oath of office
on March 7, 2003, and assumed his duties on March 10, 2003. Judge Vigil
graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1969. He attended the College of
Santa Fe, graduating summa cum laude in 1973 with a major in political science
and minor in history. He received the highest award given to a student,
the Brother Benildus Award, named after the founder of the College. Judge
Vigil received his legal education at Georgetown University Law Center in
Washington, D.C. He was an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal, and graduated
in 1976. Judge Vigil commenced his legal career as a staff attorney for the New Mexico Court of Appeals in its newly created pre-hearing division from 1976 until 1979. He then entered the private practice of law, focusing on criminal defense and civil litigation, with an emphasis on personal injury and medical malpractice in the civil field. He has appeared in every judicial district in the State, and before almost every sitting federal judge. Judge Vigil appears as appellate counsel in 49 published cases in New Mexico. The cases cover numerous areas of the law, including torts, contracts, civil procedure, evidence, real property, worker's compensation, statutory construction, condemnation, zoning, civil forfeiture, domestic relations, damages, insurance, and securities. In the criminal law he argued cases covering grand jury, search and seizure, double jeopardy, speedy trial, pre-indictment delay, right to counsel, evidence, privilege, and sentencing issues. Judge Vigil is admitted to the New Mexico Supreme Court, United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Military Appeals, United States Court of Appeals for the 10th, 9th, and 5th Circuits, United States District Court for the Districts of New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. He is a member of the State Bar of New Mexico, Federal Bar for the District of New Mexico, Albuquerque Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He is a past member of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and American Inns of Court. |
Governor Bill Richardson with Judge Michael E. Vigil
Judge Michael E. Vigil with one of four living Navajo Codetalkers, Jack Jones
Administration of the Oath of Office to Honorable Michael E. Vigil as Judge of the New Mexico Court of Appeals by Justice Patricio M. Serna
Judge Michael E. Vigil Formal Court Picture
Click Here for the New Mexico State Anthem (Oh, Fair New Mexico), by Elizabeth Garrett, in MIDI format