ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE CHIEF DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
Suspension of subsection (C) of Local Rule LR11-302

Dear practitioners in criminal law in the district court:

Local Rule 11-302 (2016) sets forth automatic sanctions for technical violations by probationers.  You will recall that LR11-302 (C) states: “As a sanction for all other technical violations, the probationer shall be incarcerated for five (5) days.” Subsection (C), when read in conjunction with statewide rule 5-805, has had consequences that were never intended by the Eleventh Judicial District Court when it recommended adoption of this local rule to the Supreme Court.  The District Court Judges have voted to indefinitely suspend subsection (C) of LR11-302 while pursuing the amendment process with the Supreme Court. Suspension of subsection (C) is effective immediately. The remainder of LR11-302 remains in effect.

Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions about amendments to LR11-302 that might be proposed to the Supreme Court.

Karen L. Townsend
Chief District Court Judge
11th Judicial District
(505) 334-7780
aztdklt@nmcourts.gov

PLEASE BEWARE OF JURY SCAMS

Recently, the Court has been made aware that someone is posing as law enforcement and contacting individuals by telephone stating that there has been a bench warrant issued by a District Judge for failure to appear in Court for Jury Duty and advising that, in order for the warrant to be quashed, a fee needs to be paid to a bonding company.

PLEASE NOTE:  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.