Presiding Civil Division Judge Frank A. Sedillo will step down from the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court bench at the end of the month after serving as a judge in the state’s busiest court for 24 years.

“It’s been an honor to serve this community for more than two decades, and I am grateful to have worked alongside dedicated and hardworking jurists and staff here at the Metropolitan Court and throughout the state,” said Judge Sedillo.

Judge Sedillo was elected to the Civil Division of the Metropolitan Court in November 2000, hearing thousands of small claims cases. He served as the Presiding Civil Division Judge for nearly 10 years.

“Judge Sedillo’s leadership and experience as our court’s most-senior judge will be greatly missed. He tirelessly led efforts to improve processes in the Civil Division and has worked closely with administration and staff to identify and implement efficiencies to better serve the public and our court,” said Chief Judge Joshua J. Sánchez.

In addition to his contributions leading the Civil Division in recent years, Judge Sedillo spearheaded the court’s long standing Valentine’s Day weddings event and voluntarily performed thousands of weddings for the public throughout the years. Known as the go-to volunteer mock trial judge and presenter for many schools and organizations, Judge Sedillo also dedicated his evening hours to coaching youth sports and regularly contributed to the Judge for Yourself monthly column in the Albuquerque Journal.

Throughout his career, Judge Sedillo served on numerous statewide committees including; the New Mexico State Bar Association Legal Services & Programs Committee, the NM Supreme Court Joint Rules Committee, the NM Supreme Court Data Standards Committee, the NM Supreme Court Metropolitan Rules Committee, and the NM State Bar Committee on Diversity, to name a few.

Immensely involved in the community and with his alma mater, Judge Sedillo volunteered for many years as an instructor with the University of New Mexico Continuing Education Department Children’s Spring & Summer Law Camps and for the Adult Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Lecture Series. A member and donor of the UNM Lobo Club, he also served as the UNM Letterman Alumni Association President in 2005 and on the Board of Directors for 30 years.

Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Sedillo worked in private practice for 14 years, representing families, individuals and companies in the areas of real estate, small business, collections, personal injury, domestic relations and criminal law. Before that, he served as a Court Clerk for U.S. Federal District Court, as an Assistant in the United States Senate, and as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Judge Sedillo received his law degree from UNM’s School of Law and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management. He also played football and baseball for UNM and received several academic All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors and the WAC Stan Bates Award.  

The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judicial Nominating Commission will convene early next year to interview applicants vying to fill the vacancy created by Judge Sedillo’s forthcoming retirement.