SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is accepting applications for vacant magistrate positions in Taos and Valencia counties. Valencia County Magistrate Tina R. Garcia is retiring Jan. 1, and the governor has appointed Taos County Magistrate Jeff Shannon to the Eighth Judicial District Court. New Mexico’s 54 magistrates are elected to four-year terms. Magistrates may perform marriages and handle cases such as landlord-tenant rights, traffic violations and preliminary felony hearings. Magistrates also sign off on search and arrest warrants for law enforcement officers. To be eligible you must be at least 18 years of age, a high school graduate or the equivalent and reside in the district you will serve. Those interested in applying may download an application here or request one via e-mail to vanessa.kennedy@state.nm.us. Completed applications are due by Dec. 31 and should be sent via email to vanessa.kennedy@state.nm.us or delivered to the Office of the Governor, attention: Vanessa Kennedy, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Ste. 400, Santa Fe, NM, 87501.