Ashley Nespoli-Nelson’s courthouse career started in the community of Taos. Raising three children and having worked in various industries within Taos County, Ashley learned not only the value of honesty, and hard work, but also the importance of treating people with respect. The most recent position Ashley held prior to her time working for the courts, was that of Family Navigator for a local preschool, where she got to know families and worked to connect them with available resources. Following that position, Ashley began her work with the court. Starting out as a court clerk - she quickly moved up to supervisor, and then served as Court Manager for the Taos County Magistrate and District Courts. During her time working at the Taos County Courthouse, Ashley built strong relationships with our justice partners throughout the Eighth Judicial District. It was these relationships that helped to develop trust and efficiency for our court systems through a united collaboration among the many components of our judicial system. Ashley’s focus as supervisor, and then as manager, was to organize and eliminate the backlog of cases that had accumulated during the pandemic. She worked closely with employees, judges, and the administrative office of the courts to bring the Taos County Magistrate Court to a more successful position, while also creating a supportive workplace, thus fostering an environment where Taos County could recruit and retain skilled employees.

Those years working as the Court Manager taught her that justice works best when it is grounded in humanity. When people feel heard. When decisions are made with integrity. When a judge understands both the law and the community behind it.

It’s that belief that led Ashley to step forward as a candidate for Magistrate Judge. She isn’t running to hold a title — she’s running to serve. To build a courtroom where everyone is treated with dignity, where the law is applied with clarity, fairness and ultimately, accountability.

Ashley is proud to call Taos County home. Our community has shaped who she is, as a mother, and also as a public servant, and she is committed to giving back with the same dedication and sincerity that have defined her career. Ashley wants to see our community flourish and as Magistrate Judge, she will bring not just experience, but heart — ensuring that justice in Taos County is swift and fair, and also truly rooted in the people it serves.