How Does The New Mexico Magistrate Court Work?

The New Mexico judiciary constitutes the Magistrate Courts, which are trial courts of limited jurisdiction. There are 54 Magistrate courts across the state, with a total of 67 judges presiding over them. According to Chapter 35 of the New Mexico Revised Statutes, the court exercises original jurisdiction over some criminal and civil cases.

Criminal cases heard by the New Mexico Magistrate Courts include most petty misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felonies, and county ordinance violations such as traffic violations and infractions. Civil cases addressed by the court include most small claims cases of less than $10,000. Generally, most cases handled in New Mexico Magistrate Courts are local criminal offenses and civil actions. Although the single judges resolve most of the cases brought before the court, the magistrate court is also authorized by law to conduct jury trials when requested by the parties involved.

Possessing limited jurisdiction over certain cases implies that, unless the constitution or statutory provision affirmatively grants the authority, the court cannot take action over certain cases. Therefore, the magistrate courts do not have jurisdiction to handle certain types of cases such as divorces or annulments; civil actions against public officers for misconduct in office, cases of contract and property disputes, malicious prosecution, libel, or slander, and most requests for injunctive relief.

The court shares jurisdiction over most misdemeanor criminal offenses with the District Courts. Although the magistrate courts are authorized to conduct preliminary hearings for criminal cases, they are not authorized by the constitution to conduct mental competency hearings evaluating a criminal defendant’s ability or fitness to stand trial. If there is a need for such proceeding, the case is transferred to the appropriate district court.

The Magistrate or Magistrate Judge is the judicial officer responsible for administering the law in the New Mexico Magistrate Court. Judges of the New Mexico Magistrate Courts are each elected through contested partisan elections to four-year terms. According to Article 6(VI) of the state constitution, to serve in this court, a judicial candidate must:

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be an experienced and qualified elector;
• Reside in the district of appointment;
• Have a high school diploma or completed the equivalent of high school education.

If the district of appointment has a population of more than 200,000 inhabitants, the individual must be a licensed member of the New Mexico bar but must not practice law privately during tenure in office. As a qualification to continue in office, the appointed or elected magistrate must attend at least one magistrate training program annually unless excused for good cause by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Criminal records, including criminal domestic violence and DWI cases dating as far back as late 1991, are available via the state’s official court lookup portal and the Secured Odyssey Public Access (SOPA). The case lookup portal may not display cases prior to June 1997 as well as personal identifying information like social security number or driver’s license number, juvenile case information, and order of protection cases. However, it displays updated public magistrate court information that inquirers may look through using the full name of parties in the case, case number, driver’s license information, and date of birth.

Individuals that choose to obtain case information through Secured Odyssey Public Access (SOPA) must meet the criteria demanded in the mandatory application process. For access to records prior to 1997, or records not displayed on the online access portal, the requester may visit the courthouse in person to obtain them. Below are the magistrate court locations in New Mexico:

Catron County - I
Junction of Highway 12 & 435
Reserve, NM 87830
Phone: (575) 533–6474
Fax: (575) 533–6623

Chaves County - I
400 N. Virginia Street, Suite G–1
Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: (575) 624–6088
Fax: (575) 624–6092

Cibola County - II
114 McBride Road, Suite B
Grants, NM 87020
Phone: (505) 285–4605
Fax: (505) 285–6485

Colfax County - I
333 Savage Avenue
Raton, NM 87740
Phone: (575) 445–2220
Fax: (575) 445–8966

Colfax County - II
300 Colbert Avenue
Springer, NM 87747
Phone: (575) 483–2417
Fax: (575) 483–0127

Curry County - II
221 Pile Street
Clovis, NM 88101
Phone: (575) 762–3766
Fax: (575) 769–1437

De Baca County - I
282 East Avenue B
Fort Sumner, NM 88119
Phone: (575) 355–7371
Fax: (575) 355–7149

Doña Ana County - I
110 Calle de Alegra
Las Cruces, NM 88005
Phone: (575) 524–2814
Fax: (575) 525–2951

Doña Ana County - CC
935 Anthony Drive
Anthony, NM 88021
Phone: (575) 233–3147
Fax: (575) 882–011

Doña Ana County - CC
#5 Chile Capitol Lane
Hatch, NM 87937
Phone: (575) 267–5202
Fax: (575) 267–5088

Eddy County - I
1949 South Canal Street
Carlsbad, NM 88220
Phone: (575) 885–3218
Fax: (575) 887–3460

Eddy County - III
109 North 15th Street
Artesia, NM 88210
Phone: (575) 746–2481
Fax: (575) 746–6763

Grant County - I
1620 East Pine Street
Silver City, NM 88061
Phone: (575) 538–3811
Fax: (575) 538–8079

Grant County - II
701 Central Avenue
Bayard, NM 88023
Phone: (575) 537–3042
Fax: (575) 537–7365

Harding County - I
355 Chicosa Street
Roy, NM 87743
Phone: (575) 472–3237
Fax: (575) 472–3592

Hidalgo County - I
420 Wabash Avenue
Lordsburg, NM 88045
Phone: (575) 542–3582
Fax: (575) 542–3596

Lea County - I
2110 North Alto
Hobbs, NM 88240
Phone: (575) 397–3621
Fax: (575) 393–9121

Lea County - IV
100 West Central, Suite D
Lovington, NM 88260
Phone: (575) 396–6677
Fax: (575) 396–6163

Lea County - III
2301 West Avenue O
Eunice, NM 88231
Phone: (575) 394–3368
Fax: (575) 394–3335

Lea County - CC
3421 State Highway 18 # West
Jal, NM 88252
Phone: (575) 395–2740
Fax: (575) 395–2595

Lincoln County - I
310 11th St
Carrizozo, NM 88301
Phone: (575) 648–2389
Fax: (575) 648–2695

Lincoln County - II
301 West Highway 70 #2
Ruidoso, NM 88345
Phone: (575) 378–7022
Fax: (575) 378–8508

Los Alamos County - I
2500 Trinity Drive, Suite D
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Phone: (505) 662–2727
Fax: (505) 661–6258

Luna County - I
912 South Silver Street
Deming, NM 88030
Phone: (575) 546–9321
Fax: (575) 546–4896

McKinley County - III
285 Boardman, Suite C
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 722–6636
Fax: (505) 863–3510

Mora County - I
Highway 518
Mora, NM 87732
Phone: (575) 387–2937
Fax: (575) 387–9081

Otero County - I
263 Robert H. Bradley Drive
Alamogordo, NM 88310
Phone: (575) 437–9000
Fax: (575) 439–1365

Quay County - I
122 West Center Street
Tucumcari, NM 88401
Phone: (575) 461–1700
Fax: (575) 461–4522

Rio Arriba County - I
1127 Santa Clara Peak Road
Española, NM 87532
Phone: (575) 753–2532
Fax: (575) 753–4802

Rio Arriba County - CC
2332 Highway 17
Chama, NM 87520
Phone: (575) 756–2278
Fax: (575) 756–2477

Roosevelt County - I
1630 North Boston
Portales, NM 88130
Phone: (575) 356–8569
Fax: (575) 359–6883

Sandoval County - I
1000 Montoya Road
Bernalillo, NM 87004
Phone: (505) 867–5202
Fax: (505) 867–0970

Sandoval County - II
6354 US Highway 550
Cuba, NM 87013
Phone: (575) 289–3519
Fax: (575) 289–3013

San Juan County - I
200 Gossett Drive
Aztec, NM 87410
Phone: (505) 334–9479
Fax: (505) 334–2178

San Juan County - III
950 West Apache Street
Farmington, NM 87401
Phone: (505) 326–4338
Fax: (505) 325–2618

San Miguel County - I
1927 7th Street
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Phone: (505) 425–5204
Fax: (505) 425–0422

Santa Fe County - I
2056 Galisteo Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (505) 984–9914
Fax: (505) 986–5866

Pojoaque County - CC
58 Cities of Gold Road, Suite 3
Pojoaque, NM 87506
Phone: (505) 455–7108
Fax: (505) 455–7588

Sierra County - I
155 West Barton Street
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901
Phone: (575) 894–3051
Fax: (575) 894–0476

Socorro County - I
102 Winkler
Socorro, NM 87801
Phone: (575) 835–2500
Fax: (575) 838–0428

Taos County - II
105 Albright Street
Suite M, Taos, NM 87571
Phone: (575) 758–4030
Fax: (575) 751–0983

Torrance County - I
1100 Route 66
Moriarty, NM 87035
Phone: (505) 832–4476
Fax: (505) 832–1563

Torrance County - CC
903 N 5th Street
Estancia, NM 87016
Phone: (505) 832–4476
Fax: (505) 832–1563

Union County - I
836 Main Street
Clayton, NM 88415
Phone: (575) 374–9472
Fax: (575) 374–9368

Valencia County - I
1206 Main Street
Los Lunas, NM 87031
Phone: (505) 865–4637
Fax: (505) 865–0639

Valencia County - II
901 West Castillo
Belen, NM 87002
Phone: (505) 864–7509
Fax: (505) 864–9532