Senator Joseph Cervantes Contact information

Joseph Cervantes is an American attorney in private practice in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He currently serves as a member of the New Mexico Senate, representing the 31st District since 2012.

Early Life and Education: Joseph Cervantes was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and raised on a farm near La Mesa in southern Doña Ana County. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1979 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in architecture from the University of New Mexico in 1983. Later, in 1985, Cervantes received a Master of Architecture degree from California Polytechnic State University. He became a licensed architect in California in 1987 and joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as an associate member. In 1991, Cervantes obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Professional and Business Careers: Cervantes initially practiced architecture in La Jolla, California, with Dale Naegle & Associates. He returned to New Mexico in 1987 to oversee the construction of new schools for the Gadsden School District in Anthony and Sunland Park. Subsequently, he graduated from the University of New Mexico Law School in 1991, where he was a member of the Law Review and Moot Court Teams. Cervantes began his legal career as an associate at the Albuquerque law firm Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk. In 1995, he founded Cervantes Law Firm, and in 2017, he joined partners to form the trial law firm Cervantes Scherr Legate PLC. As a recognized courtroom lawyer, Cervantes has been involved in significant cases, including a wrongful death verdict against FedEx for $165 million. He successfully argued the appeal upholding that jury verdict before the New Mexico Supreme Court. Cervantes has multiple wrongful death, trucking, and medical malpractice verdicts upheld in reported decisions from the New Mexico Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Apart from practicing law, Cervantes and his family have business interests in southern New Mexico, including commercial real estate development, farming, and agricultural processing.

Community Affairs: Cervantes received the Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. He has been re-elected to the Senate in 2016 and 2020. Additionally, Cervantes served as Chairman of the Conservation Committee in 2017.