CORONAVIRUS & THE COURTS: UPDATE

New Mexico courts have implemented measures to minimize public health risks from coronavirus (COVID-19) for those who visit or work in courthouses.

On March 11, Supreme Court Chief Justice Judith K. Nakamura announced that state courts – district, magistrate, metropolitan and appellate courts – will remain open for business to ensure courts fulfill their constitutional and statutory duties.

“The Judiciary’s responsibility to ensure constitutional protections are available to those who need them has been especially important during difficult times in our history. We are working closely with state and local governments and taking steps to ensure that courthouses are safe for jurors, litigants, lawyers, judicial employees, judges and all members of the public.” Chief Justice Nakamura said.

For additional information, please click here.

Detailed New Mexico Courts – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information can be found here. 

Please scroll below for more information concerning our District’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

New Mexico Judiciary – We’re Working to Keep You Safe in Courthouses – Video

Sixth Judicial District Court Reopening Plan

Click on reopening plan for more information: Reopening Plan

District and Magistrate Courts in Grant, Hidalgo and Luna Counties to Resume Jury Trials

Click on press release for more information: Press Release

Access to the Court

Courthouses in the Sixth Judicial District will remain open during regular court business hours.  However, individuals will be required to answer the following screening questions to determine if entry to court facilities will be allowed:

COVID-19 Screening Questions Spanish – as of June 3, 2021

COVID-19 Screening Questions Spanish – as of March 11, 2021

If your business with the court is not urgent, please contact the department you were planning to visit by telephone.  If you have a scheduled appointment or are otherwise required to appear at one of the courthouses, please contact the appropriate party 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 (contact information may be found under the Judges section to the left).
• 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 (contact information may be found under the Judges section to the left).
• If you are a juror, please contact the Jury Division (contact information for the respective Court may be found under Court Location, Business Hours & Contact Information section to the left).
• For other Court matters, please contact the Clerk’s Office (contact information for the respective Court may be found under Court Location, Business Hours & Contact Information section to the left).

For the latest information on the Coronavirus, visit the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at https://cv.nmhealth.org/ or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at https://www.cdc.gov.

Protective Face Coverings Required in NM Courthouses

Effective immediately, 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.

Notice – Emailing and faxing of documents by self-represented litigants and attorneys

In response to the Coronavirus public health emergency, the Sixth Judicial District will be implementing an interim procedure for allowing the filing of documents by email or fax to reduce the requirement of self-represented litigants  and attorneys to enter the courthouse to file documents.  Self-represented litigants and attorneys are permitted to file documents via email or fax in those case types that are not eligible for electronic filing through File and Serve that meet the criteria listed in the notices linked below.

Notice – District Courts

Notice – Magistrate Courts

Helpful Information for Appearing by Video

ANNOUNCEMENTS

How to Qualify for a Stay on Eviction

The CDC has issued a moratorium on evictions beginning September 4, 2020. It has been extended through March 31, 2021. It states that renters cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent. However, they can still be evicted for other lease violations, and rent is not waived.

In order to qualify for the moratorium, renters must fill out a Declaration form stating their inability to pay rent, and provide it to their landlord (the form can be found here). For more information, please refer to the CDC Eviction Moratorium Order and Moratoriam FAQs.

Video Orientation Program for Guardians and Conservators!

The State has created a video origination program for proposed guardians and conservators, who under a newly approved judicial rule must view the series of educational videos before their appointment by a judge.

It is a series of 10 videos that cover topics from completing reports required of guardians and conservators to procedures for filing a grievance and how to identify and report potential abuse of vulnerable New Mexicans.  The videos that that range from about five minutes to 12 minutes in length can be viewed online on the New Mexico Courts webpage.

Online Payment of Fees and Fines in District Court Cases

Members of the public can use a credit card or debit card for online payments of fees and fines in district court cases in the Sixth Judicial District of Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties.

Among the court costs that can be paid with the online system: Filing fees for civil, domestic relations and probate cases, court-ordered fines, fees and restitution, fees for mediation services, fees to request a jury trial in a civil case and fees for copies of court case records. (Available 8/20/20 at 12 midnight MST)

• Sixth Judicial District Court – Silver City
  https://www.msbpay.com/MSBWEBPayments?NM_NewMexicoCourts_6thJudicialCourt_SilverCity
• Sixth Judicial District Court – Deming
  https://www.msbpay.com/MSBWEBPayments?NM_NewMexicoCourts_6thJudicialCourt_Deming
• Sixth Judicial District Court – Lordsburg
  https://www.msbpay.com/MSBWEBPayments?NM_NewMexicoCourts_6thJudicialCourt_Lordsburg

Public Payment Portal SOP

Electronic Filing and Service Available for Criminal Cases!

Effective October 1st, 2019, electronic filing for all District courts will be available through the same File and Serve system used for Civil, Family and Probate eFiling.  Electronic filing for Criminal cases is only available for subsequent filings.

Electronic filing and service will be available for Criminal cases at no charge.  For more information, please see Rule 5-103.2.

Online Dispute Resolution – Solve Debt and Money Due Cases Online!

Online Dispute Resolution is a new, easy-to-use service for resolving debt and money due lawsuits.  The online system offers a convenient alternative to appearing in court by allowing parties to negotiate through private online messages from any location with internet access. 

Learn More