VOTE411 Voter Guide

New Mexico’s 33 counties are divided into 13 judicial districts. These are courts of general jurisdiction that hold jury trials in the following types of civil cases: tort, contract, real property rights and estate contests. District courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction over domestic relations, mental health, appeals for administrative agencies and lower courts, criminal appeals, and juvenile cases. Must be at least 35 years old, have practiced law for at least six years, and reside in the district from which elected. Six-year term.Judicial vacancies are filled through appointment by the Governor from a list of nominees submitted by a judicial nominating committee. At the next regular election the judicial position is filled in a partisan election in which the appointed judge must participate and win the most votes to retain the seat. Judges serve for terms of a set number of years, after which they must win a retention election. Voters at a retention election may vote either “yes” or “no” for each individual judge for retention. To retain the office, a judge standing for retention must receive 57% “yes” of all the votes cast on the question of retention.