HB 352/a
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AN ACT
RELATING TO COURTS; CLOSING MAGISTRATE CIRCUIT COURTS IN THE
MCKINLEY, SANTA FE, TORRANCE, DONA ANA AND LEA DISTRICTS;
RELOCATING A CIRCUIT COURT IN THE RIO ARRIBA DISTRICT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 35-1-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968,
Chapter 62, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:
"35-1-10. MAGISTRATE COURT--DONA ANA DISTRICT.--There
shall be seven magistrates in Dona Ana magistrate district.
Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 shall operate as a single
court in Las Cruces and shall rotate riding circuit to
Anthony on a regularly scheduled basis."
SECTION 2. Section 35-1-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968,
Chapter 62, Section 18, as amended) is amended to read:
"35-1-16. MAGISTRATE COURT--LEA DISTRICT.--
A. There shall be four magistrates in the Lea
magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single
court in Hobbs, division 3 in Eunice and division 4 in
Lovington. The division 3 magistrate shall ride circuit to
Hobbs as needed.
B. Magistrate judges shall not be elected at large
from the district but shall be elected by the voters of the
division for which the magistrate sits. Magistrate judges
shall reside in their divisions but shall have district-wide HB 352/a
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jurisdiction. For the 2010 and subsequent elections, the
composition of the divisions for elections and residence
purposes is as follows:
(1) division 1 is composed of Lea county
precincts 23 through 30, 32 and 41 through 43;
(2) division 2 is composed of Lea county
precincts 33 through 35, 44, 51 through 55 and 61;
(3) division 3 is composed of Lea county
precincts 20, 22, 31, 36, 62 and 71 through 74; and
(4) division 4 is composed of Lea county
precincts 2, 3, 10 through 18 and 21."
SECTION 3. Section 35-1-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968,
Chapter 62, Section 22, as amended) is amended to read:
"35-1-20. MAGISTRATE COURT--MCKINLEY DISTRICT.--There
shall be three magistrates in McKinley magistrate district,
divisions 1, 2 and 3 operating as a single court in Gallup."
SECTION 4. Section 35-1-24 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968,
Chapter 62, Section 26, as amended) is amended to read:
"35-1-24. MAGISTRATE COURT--RIO ARRIBA DISTRICT.--
A. Prior to January 1, 2027, there shall be two
magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1
and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola. The
magistrates shall rotate riding circuit to Chama as needed.
B. Beginning January 1, 2027, there shall be two
magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 HB 352/a
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and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola. The
magistrates shall ride circuit to Tierra Amarilla as needed."
SECTION 5. Section 35-1-29 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968,
Chapter 62, Section 31, as amended) is amended to read:
"35-1-29. MAGISTRATE COURT--SANTA FE DISTRICT.--There
shall be four magistrates in the Santa Fe magistrate
district, divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 operating as a single court
in Santa Fe."
SECTION 6. Section 35-1-33 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968,
Chapter 62, Section 35, as amended) is amended to read:
"35-1-33. MAGISTRATE COURT--TORRANCE DISTRICT.--There
shall be one magistrate in Torrance magistrate district whose
principal court is in Moriarty."