As the Journal reported the other day, the 1st Judicial District nominating commission narrowed down a 17-person field to six names, which have been sent to Gov. Bill Richardson. He'll use those to pick Judge James Hall's replacement. Hall retires at the end of the year.

Below, we've republished the summaries of those six candidates' applications from SFR's story this week on the selection process. Right-click the hyperlink after their names to download PDF copies of their applications. (Thanks to SFR superstar Charlotte Jusinski for spending a day with the scanner.)

T Glenn Ellington (PDF)
Age: 48
Born: Española
Employer: Ellington & Ellington LLC in Santa Fe
Fact: Hobbies include gardening, astronomy, basketball and weaving
Experience: Appointed Taxation & Revenue secretary by Gov. Gary Johnson, former chief public defender for New Mexico, former 1st District judge, former judicial nominating commissioner
Reference: 1st District Attorney Angela “Spence” Pacheco, who writes, “he has always conducted himself in an ethical and honest manner”

Mary Marlowe Sommer (PDF)
Age: 52
Born: Pasadena, Calif.
Employer: 1st District Court domestic relations hearing officer under Judge Raymond Ortiz
Fact: Worked as a production assistant for The McLaughlin Group on PBS
Experience: Assistant attorney general under AG Paul Bardacke (who chaired Gov. Richardson's 2002 campaign)
Reference: Judge Ortiz, who has “never seen her loose [sic] patience,” and attorney John Pound

Francis J Mathew (PDF)
Age: 57
Born: Phoenix, Ariz.
Employer: Solo practice in Santa Fe
Fact: Rides motorcycles and practices aikido
Experience: Personal injury lawyer and accountant
Reference: General Services Department Secretary Arturo Jaramillo

Sarah M Singleton (PDF)
Age: 60
Born: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Employer: Montgomery & Andrews PA in Santa Fe
Fact: “I am one of the hardest workers at my firm”
Experience: Current board member of the Legal Services Corporation, which funds legal aid programs throughout the US; former state bar president
Reference: Lawyer Maureen Sanders, who writes that “Sarah is one of the smartest lawyers I know”

David K Thomson (PDF 1, PDF 2, PDF 3)
Age: 41
Born: Santa Fe
Employer: New Mexico deputy attorney general
Fact: “Past volunteer for the 4th of July Pancake breakfast on the plaza”
Experience: Former legislative aide to US Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-NM
Reference: NM Chief Deputy Attorney General Albert Lama, who writes, “Both Attorney General [Gary] King and I believe that David possesses those qualities necessary to be District Court Judge”

Aaron J Wolf (PDF 1, PDF 2)
Age: 60
Born: Los Angeles, Calif.
Employer: Cuddy & McCarthy LLP
Fact: Music director at Temple Beth Shalom
Experience: Domestic relations law
Reference: 1st District Judge Barbara Vigil, who writes that one of Wolf's “finest qualities is his ability to get right to the point”