gubernatorial appointment from nominating commission
Court of Appeals:
gubernatorial appointment from nominating commission
District Court:
gubernatorial appointment from nominating commission
Supreme Court:
next general election*
Court of Appeals:
next general election*
District Court:
next general election*
Supreme Court:
peer vote***
Court of Appeals:
peer vote
District Court:
varies by district
Supreme Court:
2 yrs
Court of Appeals:
2 yrs
District Court:
varies by district
Supreme Court:
minimum age of 35; 10 yrs legal practice; state resident 3 yrs
Court of Appeals:
minimum age of 35; 10 yrs legal practice; state resident 3 yrs
District Court:
minimum age of 35; 6 yrs legal practice; state resident 3 yrs; district resident
Selection and retention methods and term lengths are prescribed by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution.
*All judicial vacancies are filled by the governor from a list of candidates recommended by a judicial nominating commission. The appointee must then compete in a partisan election at the next general election to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
**Judges must receive at least 57% in affirmative votes to be retained.
***By tradition, the court elects the most senior justice who has not yet held the position.
