SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday announced the appointment of Marcus Montoya to the position of Eighth Judicial District Attorney.

The district includes Taos, Colfax and Union Counties.

Donald Gallegos announced last month that he was retiring effective July 31, 2019.

Montoya will fulfill the remainder of Gallegos’ term, serving until obligated to run in the next general election.

Marcus Montoya is the senior trial attorney in the office of the Eighth Judicial District Attorney, where he has prosecuted a wide range of cases, including first-degree murder, child abuse and drug trafficking. He was named 2019 Eighth Judicial District Prosecutor of the Year. A graduate of Taos High School, Montoya earned a bachelor’s degree from Beloit College and his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.