ANNOUNCEMENTS 

CORONAVIRUS & THE COURTS: UPDATE

PROTECTIVE FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED IN ALL COURTHOUSES

Effective May 15, 2020, any person entering a New Mexico courthouse or judicial building must wear a mask or other protective face covering to help control the spread of COVID-19.  

“State health officials have made it abundantly clear that if each of us wears a mask in public we can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” said Chief Justice Judith K. Nakamura. “Our courts provide essential services to the public so we continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of people who work in or need to visit a courthouse.

Courthouses in the Eleventh Judicial District, including all District and Magistrate Courts located in McKinley and San Juan Counties, WILL REMAIN OPEN during regular business hours.  Courthouses WILL NOT be closed while area schools are closed for the remainder of the school year.

With the severity of the influenza season and new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in New Mexico, the Eleventh Judicial District & Magistrate Courts have been closely monitoring this evolving situation to maintain a safe and healthy court environment for all visitors and staff.  

To access Press Releases, Orders of the Court and other information, please see New Mexico Court's COVID-19 - Coronavirus Information Page by clicking on the following link:  https://nmcourts.gov/covid-19.aspx 

 

Conducting Hearings Via Teleconference Is Among New Measures In Keeping Courts Open During the COVID-19 Crisis

To Members of the Press and Public:

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and limitation of group gatherings to 15 people, members of the press and public are able to attend court proceedings telephonically at all Magistrate and District Court locations in the Eleventh Judicial District. 

In order to do so, notification must be made to the clerk’s office or judge’s staff at least two (2) days in advance of the proceeding.  When calling the court, please be prepared to give the judge’s name, court case number, date and time of the hearing in order to receive the toll-free telephone number and access code.

Judges names and appropriate court location telephone numbers are as follows:

Magistrate Court Locations

Court Location	Judge Name	Telephone Number
Aztec Magistrate Court	Sharer, Reed-Chase, McDaniel	505-334-9479
Farmington Magistrate Court	Hawkinson, Scott, Cordell	505-326-4338
Gallup Magistrate Court	Sanders, Silversmith, Yazzie	505-722-6636

 

District Court Locations

Court Location	Judge Name	Telephone Number
Aztec District Court	Gurley, Marsh, Townsend	505-334-6151
Farmington District Court	Dalley, Weaver	505-326-2256
Gallup District Court	Aragon, DePauli	505-863-6816

 

Child Support / Domestic Violence cases heard by Commissioner Kyle M. Finch

County	Court Location	Telephone Number
McKinley	Gallup District Court	505-863-6816
San Juan	Aztec District Court	505-334-6151
San Juan	Farmington District Court	505-326-2256

 

ACCESS TO THE COURT

Individuals should consider the following prior to entering District and Magistrate Courthouses in the Eleventh Judicial District:

1.     Over the past two weeks, have you developed flu-like symptoms such as a cough, a fever, or shortness of breath?

2.     Have you traveled outside the U.S. within the last 30 days or a high risk area as identified by the NM Department Health. 

3.     Have you been diagnosed with, or in contact with, anyone who has been diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection?

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions and your business with the court is not urgent, you will not be permitted access. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions and you have a scheduled appointment or are otherwise required to appear at one of the courthouses, please contact either of the following prior to your scheduled appointment: 

• If you are represented by an attorney, please contact your attorney.
• If you are not represented by an attorney and are required to appear in court, please contact the Judge's chambers to make arrangements to appear telephonically. 
• If you are an attorney and are scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact the Judge's chambers to make arrangements to appear telephonically.
• If you are a juror, please contact the Jury Division for the most current information.

We are monitoring this situation with communication and guidance from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  You may access websites by clicking on the following links:

The courts are relying on long-standing plans and procedures to protect the public, employees and stakeholders, contain the spread of infectious diseases of all kinds, and ensure ongoing access to justice. 

Signs and symptoms of the COVID-19 infection include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.  The influenza also presents similar symptoms but is caused by a different virus.  According to the DOH, influenza is currently widespread in New Mexico and most of the United States.  The DOH also asserts that influenza remains a higher risk to our community.

Hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the courthouses, and cleaning staff is thoroughly disinfecting door handles and other commonly-touched surfaces.

What you should do to stay healthy and prevent illness:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Practice social distancing, and avoid shaking hands and hugging.
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue, and immediately dispose of the tissue.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• You should not leave your house if you have a fever, and the fever should be gone for 24 hours without medication before leaving your home.

 

 

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PLEASE BEWARE OF JURY SCAMS

The Eleventh Judicial District Court will not ever attempt to make contact with you via telephone, email, or employ bonding companies to notify you of warrants issued by the Court for failure to appear for Jury Duty or for any other matter.  

If you have been contacted in this manner, you are advised to report it to local law enforcement.