Edwin L. Felter

{{Short description|American judge (1917–2004)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} '''Edwin L. Felter''' (August 24, 1917 – August 29, 2004)<ref name="AJ Obit">"[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117546376/obituary-for-edwin-l-justice-felter/ Justice Edwin L. Felter]", ''Albuquerque Journal'' (September 1, 2004), p. 3.</ref> was an American judge. He was a justice of the [[New Mexico Supreme Court]] from August 16, 1979 until his retirement on December 31, 1980.

Born in [[Des Moines, Iowa]],<ref name="AJ Obit"/><ref name="Deming">"[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-deming-headlight-felter-named-justic/130331166/ Felter named Justice]", ''The Deming Headlight'' (August 1, 1979), p. 7.</ref> Felter graduated from high school in [[Tucumcari, New Mexico]],<ref name="Deming"/> and later received his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from [[American University Washington College of Law]] in 1943. He served for two years in the [[United States Navy]] towards the end of [[World War II]], in the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater]].<ref name="AJ Obit"/><ref name="Deming"/>

Felter gained [[admission to the bar]] in New Mexico in 1946, and entered into a law practice with [[Joseph Montoya]], who later became prominent as a politician.<ref name="Deming"/> In 1970, Governor [[Bruce King]] appointed Deming to a seat on the New Mexico First Judicial District Court,<ref name="AJ Obit"/><ref name="Deming"/> to which Felter was reelected in 1972, and again in 1978.<ref name="Deming"/>

In August 1979, Governor King appointed Felter to a seat on the state supreme court vacated by the death of Justice [[John B. McManus Jr.]]<ref name="AJ Obit"/> Felter ran for election to a full term on the court in 1980, but was defeated by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[William F. Riordan]],<ref name=results>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/262801721/|title= Reagan's Margin in N.M. 82,953|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=1980-11-26}}</ref> thereafter serving until the end of his term on December 31, 1980.

Felter died in [[Colorado Springs]] at the age of 87.<ref name="AJ Obit"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box |title=[[List of justices of the New Mexico Supreme Court|Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court]] |before=[[John B. McManus Jr.]] |after=[[William F. Riordan]] |years=1979–1980}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Felter, Edwin L.}} [[Category:1917 births]] [[Category:2004 deaths]] [[Category:American University Washington College of Law alumni]] [[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]] [[Category:Justices of the New Mexico Supreme Court]]