N.M. Const. art. VI, § 14
The qualifications of the district judges shall be the same as those of justices of the supreme court except that district judges shall have been in the actual practice of law for at least six years preceding assumption of office. Each district judge shall reside in the district for which the judge was elected or appointed. The increased qualifications provided by this 1988 amendment shall not apply to district judges serving at the time this amendment passes or elected at the general election in 1988. (As amended November 8, 1988.)
The 1988 amendment, which was proposed by S.J.R. No. 1, § 1 (Laws 1988) and adopted at the general election held on November 8, 1988, by a vote of 203,509 for and 159,957 against, substituted the present provisions for the former provisions which read "The qualifications of the district judges shall be the same as those of justices of the supreme court. Each district judge shall reside in the district for which he was elected."
Compiler's notes. — An amendment to this section, proposed by S.J.R. No. 2 (Laws 1981), which would have substituted "appointed" for "elected" at the end of the second sentence, was submitted to the people at the general election held on November 2, 1982. It was defeated by a vote of 117,601 for and 139,643 against.
Cross references. — For qualifications of supreme court justices, see N.M. Const., art. VI, § 8.
For qualifications for holding office generally, see N.M. Const., art. VII, § 2.
Comparable provisions. — Idaho Const., art. V, §§ 12, 23.
Montana Const., art. VII, § 9.
Utah Const., art. VIII, § 7.
Law reviews. — For survey, "Article VII of the New Probate Code: In Pursuit of Uniform Trust Administration," see 6 N.M. L. Rev. 213 (1976).
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 46 Am. Jur. 2d Judges § 6 et seq.
Incompatibility of office of judge and office of the military service, 26 A.L.R. 143, 132 A.L.R. 254, 147 A.L.R. 1419, 148 A.L.R. 1399, 150 A.L.R. 1444.
Eligibility to office of judge of one who was not an attorney, 50 A.L.R. 1156.
Right of party in course of litigation to challenge eligibility of judge, 144 A.L.R. 1207.
Validity of requirement that candidate or public officer have been resident of governmental unit for specified period, 65 A.L.R.3d 1048.
Constitutional restrictions on nonattorney acting as judge in criminal proceedings, 71 A.L.R.3d 562.
Disqualification of judge, justice of the peace or similar judicial officer for pecuniary interest in fines, forfeitures or fees payable by litigants, 72 A.L.R.3d 375.
48 C.J.S. Judges §§ 14 to 18.