Supreme Court Order 20-8500-025 PHE Protocols for Safe & Effective Operation

First Judicial District Reopening Plan

Attorneys, Pro Se Litigants, Grand Jurors, and Public:

The First Judicial District Court will remain open with regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The Court Clerk’s office does close at 4:00 p.m. daily, but is open during the noon hour.

• NOTICE ON REMOTE ACCESS TO COURT PROCEEDINGS
  Members of the press and public who wish to remotely observe a proceeding conducted by telephone or video during the current public health emergency, SHALL OBTAIN THE TELEPHONE OR VIDEO CONFERENCE CALL-IN PHONE NUMBER and PIN from the specific Judge's CALENDAR webpage or DISTRICT COURT JUDGES Division Page (on the left sidebar). 

• Please use the Judiciary’s online “Case Lookup” to check the status of civil and criminal cases, including whether a hearing is scheduled in a particular case.

• Individuals answering “Yes” to any of the following questions should avoid coming to the courthouse, you will NOT BE PERMITTED IN THE BUILDING.

                   1.  Within the past 14 days, have you left New Mexico or traveled to New Mexico from a location outside of the State or outside the United States? (If you are a participant in a court proceeding that is occurring today or court ordered to be here, please answer “other”)

                   2.  Have you been asked to self-quarantine because of COVID-19 and are you still within the quarantine period?

                   3.  Within the past 14 days, have you been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a doctor?

                   4.  Within the past 14 days, have you had a positive test results for COVID-19 from a testing center or by the Department of Health?

                   5.  In the past 14 days, have you been in contact with anyone who you know has COVID-19, or with someone who is required to self-quarantine?

                    6.  Within the past 14 days, have you had a fever at or above 100.4 degrees, chills, sore throat, body aches, or headaches?

                    7.  Within the past 14 days, have you developed new shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or dry cough?

                    8.  Have you recently developed a loss of taste or smell?

If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, and have court business, please contact the following as applicable: If you are a juror, contact the Jury Division at (505) 455-8225; for other District Court matters contact the Court Clerk’s office at (505) 455-8268 or (505) 455-8200; if you are scheduled to appear in court before a judge contact the judge’s office directly.

(Contact information may be found to the left under “District Court Judges.”)

• When in the courthouse you must wear a mask at all times and observe six feet of social distancing between you and any other person.

• Pro se parties in a case, and cases for which e-filing is not yet accepted (sequestered cases) may use the following emailed address to e-file: sfedfilings@nmcourts.gov

• Jury trials will commence July 13, 2020 (see reopening plan for further information and guidance).

• Grand Juries are suspended until further Order of the Court. Preliminary Examinations are to be conducted by the Magistrate Courts.

Contact Information for the First Judicial District Magistrate Courts is as follows:

Santa Fe Magistrate Court (505) 984-9914 ext. 131

Espanola Magistrate Court (505) 753-2532 ext. 0

Chama Magistrate Court (505) 756-2278

Los Alamos Magistrate Court (505) 662-2727 

*Please see the Division calendar pages for Guidelines, Protocols and information specific to Civil, Criminal and Family Courts.  

First Judicial District Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

The Local Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils were originally created by Supreme Court Order. In 2019, the New Mexico Legislature passed HB 267 which created these Local Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils per statute. Under this bill, the Council meets once monthly. Due to COVID-19, the Council for the First Judicial District is meeting virtually.  Please see the agendas below for meeting information, including date, time and virtual links (video and telephonic).