NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The United States Supreme Court appointed a new judge in July to oversee the ongoing dispute between New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado over water use in the Rio Grande. Judge David Brooks Smith will be handling the case replacing Judge Michael J. Mellow as the special master. This is the third special master for the case.
The special master acts as a trial judge. Judge Smith will now decide on issues within the case and then prepare reports to inform the Supreme Court’s ultimate decision.