Edwin L. Mechem

Edwin Leard Mechem (July 2, 1912 – November 27, 2002) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist from New Mexico. He served as the 15th, 17th, and 19th governor of New Mexico, the first person born in the 20th century to become the state's governor, as well as the first person born in New Mexico after statehood to ascend to the office. During his final term as governor, Mechem appointed himself as a United States Senator, pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. During his tenure, he was one of five Northern Republicans to vote against the Civil Rights Act 1964. He was defeated in his bid to keep his senate seat in the 1964 United States Senate election in New Mexico. He later served as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Edwin Mechem
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
In office
July 3, 1982  November 27, 2002
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
In office
October 14, 1970  July 3, 1982
Appointed byRichard Nixon
Preceded bySeat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded byBobby Ray Baldock
United States Senator
from New Mexico
In office
November 30, 1962  November 3, 1964
Preceded byDennis Chavez
Succeeded byJoseph Montoya
15th, 17th and 19th Governor of New Mexico
In office
January 1, 1961  November 30, 1962
LieutenantTom Bolack
Preceded byJohn Burroughs
Succeeded byTom Bolack
In office
January 1, 1957  January 1, 1959
LieutenantJoseph Montoya
vacant
Preceded byJohn F. Simms
Succeeded byJohn Burroughs
In office
January 1, 1951  January 1, 1955
LieutenantTibo J. Chávez
Preceded byThomas J. Mabry
Succeeded byJohn F. Simms
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
In office
1947–1948
Personal details
Born
Edwin Leard Mechem

(1912-07-02)July 2, 1912
Alamogordo, New Mexico
DiedNovember 27, 2002(2002-11-27) (aged 90)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceAlbuquerque, New Mexico
EducationUniversity of Arkansas (LLB)

Early life and education

Born in Alamogordo, New Mexico, he attended schools in Alamogordo and Las Cruces. He attended New Mexico A&M University (now New Mexico State University) from 1930 to 1931 and 1935, where he was a member of Alpha Delta Theta fraternity. When it became a chapter of Sigma Pi fraternity Mechem was one of the first alumni to be initiated into the national organization.[1] He worked as a land surveyor for the United States Bureau of Reclamation in Las Cruces from 1932 to 1935. He transferred his college credits to the University of Arkansas School of Law and graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Laws.

Career

New Mexico politics

He was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 1939 and practiced law in Las Cruces and later Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was an FBI agent from 1942 to 1945 and a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1947 to 1948.

He was elected Governor in 1950 and 1952, did not run in 1954, and was elected again in 1956. In 1954 he ran for the United States Senate but was defeated by sitting Senator Clinton Presba Anderson. After winning another term as governor in 1956, he was defeated for reelection again in 1958, then elected to a fourth term in 1960. A member of the Committee on Government Security from 1956 to 1957, and a member of the American Law Institute, he was again elected Governor in 1960. Mechem lost his bid for reelection on November 6, 1962. He arranged his own appointment (as was his prerogative under the Seventeenth Amendment) to the United States Senate when long-time senator Dionisio "Dennis" Chavez died later that month. In the Senate he voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He served until November 1964 and resumed his law practice after an unsuccessful run for reelection. He was a member of the New Mexico Commission on Reorganization of the Executive Branch and a member of the New Mexico State Police Commission.[2]

Federal judicial service

Mechem was nominated by President Richard Nixon on September 3, 1970, to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, to a new seat authorized by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 8, 1970, and received his commission on October 14, 1970. He assumed senior status on July 3, 1982. His service terminated on November 27, 2002, due to his death.[2]

Notable ruling

As a judge, Mechem's made a ruling protecting the rights of American Indians on Indian lands from government interference.[3]

Personal

Mechem's father, Edwin Mechem Sr., had been a respected state district judge in Las Cruces. He was related to another New Mexican governor, Merritt C. Mechem who was his uncle.

References

  1. "Governor of New Mexico" (PDF). The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Vol. 43 no. 4. Winter 1957. p. 220.
  2. Edwin Leard Mechem at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. Simonich, Milan (24 December 2011). "Bill to name courthouse for Edwin Mechem". Alamogordo Daily News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014.

Sources

Party political offices
Preceded by
Manuel Lujan Sr.
Republican nominee for Governor of New Mexico
1950, 1952
Succeeded by
Alvin Stockton
Preceded by
Patrick J. Hurley
Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New Mexico
(Class 2)

1954
Succeeded by
William Colwes
Preceded by
Alvin Stockton
Republican nominee for Governor of New Mexico
1956, 1958, 1960, 1962
Succeeded by
Merle H. Tucker
Preceded by
Forrest S. Atchley
Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New Mexico
(Class 1)

1964
Succeeded by
Anderson Carter
Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas J. Mabry
Governor of New Mexico
1951–1955
Succeeded by
John F. Simms
Preceded by
John F. Simms
Governor of New Mexico
1957–1959
Succeeded by
John Burroughs
Preceded by
John Burroughs
Governor of New Mexico
1961–1962
Succeeded by
Tom Bolack
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Dennis Chavez
United States Senator (Class 1) from New Mexico
1962–1964
Succeeded by
Joseph Montoya
Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
1970–1982
Succeeded by
Bobby Ray Baldock
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