The Hon. James A. Noel is a judge for the 13th Judicial District Court of New Mexico. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on February 28, 2020, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Louis P. McDonald.
The 13th Judicial District encompasses Cibola County, Sandoval County, and Valencia County.
Prior to his appointment, Noel was the Court Executive Officer and Court Clerk for the 2nd Judicial District Court, a position to which he was named in 2015. Before that, he held positions as the Executive Director of the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission (2004 to 2009) as well as Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources.
Noel earned a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2000. He was admitted to the State Bar of New Mexico the same year.
After graduating from law school, Noel spent time as an assistant attorney general for the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. He was also general counsel for the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor.
Noel was a resident of Corrales, New Mexico, at the time of his appointment.