The bill proposes significant changes to the structure of magistrate courts in New Mexico, specifically targeting the McKinley, Santa Fe, Torrance, Dona Ana, and Lea districts. It amends several sections of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 1978 to outline the number of magistrates and their operational jurisdictions within these districts. For instance, the Dona Ana district will maintain seven magistrates operating as a single court in Las Cruces, while the Lea district will have four magistrates with specific divisions located in Hobbs, Eunice, and Lovington. Additionally, the bill establishes that magistrate judges will be elected by voters within their respective divisions rather than at large from the district.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a timeline for changes in the Rio Arriba district, where two magistrates will operate as a single court in Espanola, with a transition to riding circuit to Tierra Amarilla starting January 1, 2027. The McKinley district will have three magistrates in Gallup, and the Santa Fe district will consist of four magistrates in Santa Fe. The Torrance district will be served by one magistrate based in Moriarty. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the operations of magistrate courts across these districts while ensuring local representation in the election of magistrate judges.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 35-1-10, 35-1-12, 35-1-16, 35-1-20, 35-1-24, 35-1-27, 35-1-29, 35-1-33
Final Version: 35-1-10, 35-1-16, 35-1-20, 35-1-24, 35-1-29, 35-1-33