Member Spotlight on Natalie Lehman

Posted by Julie Hayles

Lea County Women's Network members have probably read or heard about Natalie as of late, as she was recently appointed to serve as the Interim Municipal Court Judge for the City of Hobbs.

Lea County Women's Network members have probably read or heard about Natalie as of late, as she was recently appointed to serve as the Interim Municipal Court Judge for the City of Hobbs. Previously, Natalie was as an associate attorney at Losee, Carson & Haas, P.A. in Artesia, where she focused on oil and gas title work, real property transactions and probates. Natalie was also the judicial law clerk for all 10 district court judges in Lea, Eddy and Chaves counties prior to venturing into private law. Her law clerk position involved conducting legal research for the judges to assist in deciding cases and court administration issues, and gave her a unique insight into the area's judicial system.

Natalie spent her childhood years in the San Francisco Bay area. Her father's job in the natural gas pipeline industry brought the family to Portland, Oregon, and then later to the Lone Star state as they settled in Houston, Texas.

Natalie attended the University of Texas in Austin, but afterward California lured her back. She moved to San Diego, where the majority of her mother's family lived, and attended law school at California Western School of Law. After graduation, Natalie moved back to Texas to marry her husband Richard, and then moved to Hobbs when he accepted a nuclear engineering job with LES at the National Enrichment Facility in Eunice in December of 2006.

In her free time, Natalie and her husband, Richard, enjoy exploring New Mexico and beyond. Natalie also enjoys cooking and eating fine foods, scrap booking, and gardening. This past June, the Lehman family expanded when Natalie and Richard adopted a one-year old Husky-Lab-Terrier-Shepherd mix from the Humane Society.

Although it has only been a few weeks since her appointment as Municipal Court Judge, Natalie is settling into the new position and is anticipating a challenging schedule ahead. In addition to her busy work and personal life, Natalie is an active member of the Lea County Bar Association.

The Lea County Women's Network is proud to count Natalie as a member and wishes her the best of luck in her new position. Nothing personal, Natalie, but we hope to ONLY see you in your free time, and NOT during your day job!