Edwin L. Mechem

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 by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded by	Bobby Baldock
United States Senator from New Mexico
In office November 30, 1962 – November 3, 1964
Appointed by	Tom Bolack
Preceded by	Dennis Chavez
Succeeded by	Joseph Montoya
15th, 17th and 19th Governor of New Mexico
In office January 1, 1961 – November 30, 1962
Lieutenant	Tom Bolack
Preceded by	John Burroughs
Succeeded by	Tom Bolack
In office January 1, 1957 – January 1, 1959
Lieutenant	Joseph Montoya vacant
Preceded by	John F. Simms
Succeeded by	John Burroughs
In office January 1, 1951 – January 1, 1955
Lieutenant	Tibo J. Chávez
Preceded by	Thomas J. Mabry
Succeeded by	John 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, U.S.
Died	November 27, 2002(2002-11-27) (aged 90) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	University of Arkansas (LLB)

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 non-Southern Republicans in the Senate to vote against the Civil Rights Act 1964.^[1] He was defeated in his bid to keep his senate seat in the 1964 United States Senate election in New Mexico.^[2] He later served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.