ANNOUNCEMENTS

ACCESS TO COURTHOUSE

The courts are relying on long-standing plans and procedures to protect the public, employees and stakeholders to contain the spread of all known infectious diseases and to ensure ongoing access to justice.

NEW!  Plan for Resumption of Full Operations as Approved by the New Mexico Supreme Court – March 21, 2022

Click to view: SAN JUAN & MCKINLEY COUNTIES – DISTRICT & MAGISTRATE COURTS EXPANDED OPERATIONS REOPENING PLAN

PLEASE NOTE: THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MOST CURRENT SUPREME COURT ORDER AS IT IMPACTS THE OPERATIONS OF THE COURT. WE WILL AMEND OUR PLANS AS NEW ORDERS ARE AMENDED OR INTRODUCED.

To access Press Releases, Orders of the Court and other information, please access the New Mexico Court’s COVID-19 Coronavirus Information Page by clicking on the following link: https://www.nmcourts.gov/covid-19

CORONAVIRUS & THE COURTS: UPDATE
PROTECTIVE FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED IN COURTROOMS ONLY – Effective on Monday, October 3, 2022.

The New Mexico Judiciary is committed to keeping everyone safe in courthouses.  Effective Monday, October 3 2022, screening questions are still required for entry into New Mexico courthouses and judicial buildings and a minimum of three feet physical distancing will be strictly enforced.  Masks are only required in courtrooms. 

Individuals should consider the following prior to entering District and Magistrate Courthouses in the Eleventh Judicial District:

Every person entering a courtroom must wear a mask and truthfully answer the following screening questions   If you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions, you will not be permitted to enter the courthouse.

1. Within the past 5 days, have you had a fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea?
2. With the past 5 days, have you tested positive for COVID-19?
3. Have you taken a COVID-19 test and are still waiting for the test results?
4. In the past 5 days, have you been in contact with anyone who you know has COVID-19 OR who is required to self-quarantine?

If your business with the court is urgent or if you have a scheduled appointment or are otherwise required to appear in person at a court proceeding at one of the courthouses, you are permitted to enter as long as you have answered “no” to questions #1 – #4. If you answer “yes” to any of questions #1 – #4 on the day of your court appearance, do not go to the courthouse and contact the following:

• If you are represented by an attorney, please contact your attorney.
• If you are not represented by an attorney, please contact the Judge’s chambers to make arrangements to appear by telephone or by video conference.
• If you are an attorney, please contact the Judge’s chambers to make arrangements to appear by telephone or by video conference.
• If you are a juror, please contact the Jury Division for the most current information.
• If you are a witness, please contact the attorney who told you to go to the courthouse.

For all other members of the public, if you answer “yes” to any of questions #1 – #4, you are not permitted to enter the courthouse.

We are monitoring this situation with communication and guidance from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). You may access websites by clicking on the following links:

New Mexico Department of Health’s website: https://cv.nmhealth.org/World Health Organization’s website: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website: https://www.cdc.gov

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 INFECTION

Signs and symptoms of the COVID-19 infection include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. The influenza also presents similar symptoms but is caused by a different virus. According to the DOH, influenza is currently widespread in New Mexico and most of the United States. The DOH also asserts that influenza remains a higher risk to our community.

Hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout all courthouses. Cleaning staff is thoroughly disinfecting restrooms every 2 hours, door handles and other commonly-touched surfaces.

What you should do to stay healthy and prevent illness:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Practice social distancing, and avoid shaking hands and hugging.
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue, and immediately dispose of the tissue.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• You should not leave your house if you have a fever, and the fever should be gone for 24 hours without medication before leaving your home.

Conducting Hearings Via Teleconference Is Among New Measures In Keeping Courts Open During the COVID-19 Crisis

To Members of the Press and Public:

If you are a litigant, a witness or other participant in a court proceeding and have been told by the Judge or attorney in the court proceeding to go to the Court building in person, you are expected to go to the Court building. Refer to the “Access to the Court” section of this web page below for further instructions.

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and limitation of group gatherings to 15 people, members of the press and public are able to attend court proceedings telephonically at all Magistrate and District Court locations in the Eleventh Judicial District.

In order to do so, notification must be made to the clerk’s office or judge’s staff at least two (2) days in advance of the proceeding. When calling the court, please be prepared to give the judge’s name, court case number, date and time of the hearing in order to receive the toll-free telephone number and access code.

Judges names and appropriate court location telephone numbers are as follows:

Magistrate Court Locations

District Court Locations

Child Support & Domestic Violence cases heard by Hearing Officer/Commissioner

PLEASE BEWARE OF JURY SCAMS

The Eleventh Judicial District Court will not ever attempt to make contact with you via telephone, email, or employ bonding companies to notify you of warrants issued by the Court for failure to appear for Jury Duty or for any other matter.

If you have been contacted in this manner, you are advised to report it to local law enforcement.

THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT & MAGISTRATE COURTS

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

(Revised: January 13, 2022)

POLICY:

     THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT & MAGISTRATE COURTS, LOCATED IN BOTH McKINLEY AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES, WILL DECIDE WHETHER COURTHOUSES WILL OPEN ON A 2-HOUR DELAY OR WILL CLOSE FOR THE DAY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. 

     FOR CURRENT UPDATES TO THE STATUS OF A COURTHOUSE DELAY OR CLOSURE, PLEASE REGUARLY CHECK MAJOR TELEVISION NEWS STATIONS BY CLICKING ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

• KOAT

• ​KRQE

• ​KOB

SCHEDULED HEARINGS:

     IF THE COURT’S OPENING IS DELAYED OR CLOSED ON THE DAY OF YOUR SCHEDULED HEARING, CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY OR THE CLERKS’ OFFICE AT THE COURTHOUSE WHEN IT REOPENS AT:

AZTEC DISTRICT COURT – (505) 334-6151

AZTEC MAGISTRATE COURT – (505) 334-9479

FARMINGTON DISTRICT COURT – (505) 326-2256

FARMINGTON MAGISTRATE COURT – (505) 326-4338

GALLUP DISTRICT COURT – (505) 863-6816

GALLUP MAGISTRATE COURT – (505) 722-6636