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