A state district judge this week issued an order commanding the city of Santa Fe to use ranked-choice voting in the March municipal election but allowing the city at least one more chance to argue why it isn’t ready to switch to a system approved by voters nearly a decade ago.

It’s unclear, however, how the writ issued by Judge Greg Shaffer, sworn in just last week to his seat on the First Judicial District Court bench, will proceed, and whether a hearing he scheduled on the matter for next week will occur.

According to online court records, Assistant City Attorney Zach Shandler filed a motion Monday, a day before the writ was filed, requesting that Shaffer be recused from the case. No reason was provided.

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