Voter registration records show that a Ruidoso lawyer selected for a southern New Mexico judgeship by Gov. Susana Martinez changed her party affiliation to Republican from Democrat on the day her appointment was announced.
A spokesman for the GOP governor said Friday that Angie Schneider's party affiliation is "her personal choice" and that Martinez appointed Schneider because she was the most qualified candidate for the judgeship.
Voter registration records from the Lincoln County clerk's office show that Schneider changed her party affiliation to Republican on Wednesday. She had been a Democrat since January and was a Republican before that.
Schneider didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
She was one of two lawyers recommended to the governor for the 12th Judicial District judgeship by a bipartisan judicial nominating commission.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.