Local Family Court Judge Shannon Bulman Retires After Six Years

Judge Shannon Broderick Bulman retired from the First Judicial District Court on Jan. 1, 2026, concluding six years of service that included presiding over a wide range of domestic relations matters affecting Los Alamos County residents. Her exit comes as many families rely on the district court to resolve child custody, divorce, kinship guardianship and domestic violence proceedings.

“It has been my privilege and honor to serve the people of the First Judicial District,” Judge Bulman said. “I have strived to fairly and impartially resolve cases based on the evidence and the law, and considering the best interests of children, families and other individuals involved.” Chief Judge Bryan Biedscheid added, “Judge Bulman will be greatly missed.” Those sentiments reflect Bulman’s reputation for a compassionate approach in emotionally charged family law cases.

Bulman was appointed to the district court in January 2020, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Raymond Ortiz. Prior to her appointment, she worked as a domestic relations hearing officer covering the First Judicial District’s Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties. She also served as a Santa Fe County probate judge from 2015 to 2017 and spent years in private legal practice. Bulman earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1989.

Under state law, the governor will appoint Bulman’s successor. An independent judicial nominating commission will screen applicants for the vacancy and recommend nominees to the governor for possible appointment. That process determines the next judge who will manage cases that directly affect families in Los Alamos County, and it will shape the local court’s handling of sensitive proceedings while the courtroom transitions to new leadership.

For residents, the immediate concerns are continuity and timeliness. Domestic relations cases often involve urgent safety and custody questions, and any change on the bench can affect scheduling, hearings and the disposition of pending matters. Court administrators and attorneys will work to minimize delays during the interim period, and the nominating commission’s screening will focus on candidates with experience in family law and judicial temperament suited to these disputes.

While this is a local judicial change, it resonates with broader principles of judicial independence and the rule of law that underpin public trust in the courts. The appointment process that follows will determine how those principles are carried forward in the First Judicial District and how the court continues to serve Los Alamos County families in need of timely, compassionate justice.