N.M. Stat. Ann. § 35-1-29
History: 1953 Comp., § 36-1-29, enacted by Laws 1968, ch. 62, § 31; 1969, ch. 231, § 1; 1985, ch. 145, § 12; 2005, ch. 284, § 8; 2025, ch. 152, § 5.
The 2025 amendment, effective June 20, 2025, removed language requiring one magistrate to ride circuit to Pojoaque on a regular basis; after "Santa Fe" deleted "however, one magistrate shall ride circuit to Pojoaque on a regularly scheduled basis".
The 2005 amendment, effective July 1, 2005, increased the number for magistrates from three to four and provided that division 4 shall be in Santa Fe.
Temporary provision. — Laws 2005, ch. 284, § 10 provided that the offices of magistrate in San Juan division 5, Sandoval division 3 and Santa Fe division 4 shall be filled by appointment by the governor to begin serving on July 1, 2005. The appointed magistrates shall serve until succeeded by magistrates elected at the general election in 2006. The first full term of office of the elected magistrates shall begin on January 1, 2007.