Dec. 5, 2025

 

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Give Back Through the New Mexico State Bar Foundation!

Help Us Reach Our Goal – 10% MORE In Donations This Year During License Renewal Season


During this year's license renewal season, please consider supporting the New Mexico State Bar Foundation with your contributions. Through your support, the Bar Foundation's programs and services can continue to provide crucial civil legal services to underserved New Mexicans!


Visit www.sbnm.org/donate to make a contribution to the Bar Foundation. Donations are gratefully accepted year-round.

 

Administrative Office of the Courts – Notice of New Criminal Competency Case Types


The New Mexico Judiciary is pleased to announce the planned January 1, 2026, rollout of new criminal competency case types and statewide standard operating procedures for processing competency cases:


What’s new? 

  • The old “Lower Court Competency” (SI) civil case type will be disabled (although existing LCCSI cases will remain available to process) 
  • Two new criminal competency case types will be available for all District courts:
  • Competency – Felony (FI). 
  • Competency – Misdemeanor (MI). 
  • The FI and MI case types will:
  • Not be automatically sealed, although specific documents and pleadings within the case will remain sealed, and a judge may still order the sealing of a case. 
  • Be related to the underlying case. 
  • Be available for subsequent e-filing through File & Serve, unless a judge’s order has sealed the case. 
  • Be available online as a Tier 1 criminal case in re:SearchNM and Case Lookup.
  • Those continuing to use Secured Odyssey Public Access (SOPA) will not be able to access these FI and MI cases. Please contact support@nmcourts.gov if you have any questions about a re:SearchNM account. 


At this time, all other proceedings for competency evaluations and restoration activities will remain the same. 

Inclusive Interview – Chrystian J. Gonzalez, Esq.

Second Judicial District Court – Court Closure Notice


All Offices and Divisions of the Second Judicial District Court will be closed briefly on Dec. 12. The Children's Court will be closed from 11:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (MT). The District Court downtown location will be closed from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (MT).

Administrative Office of the Courts – Notice of Scheduled System Downtime – Dec. 12 - 15, 2025


Several judicial information technology applications will be unavailable due to planned maintenance starting Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. (MT) through Dec. 15 at 7 a.m. (MT). Below is a quick breakdown of what to expect:


Applications Unavailable


  • SOPA (Secured Odyssey Public Access)
  • Fully offline during the maintenance window.
  • This system is hosted internally and will not be accessible until maintenance is complete.


Applications Staying Online (with limitations)


  • re:Search NM 
  • The site will remain available.
  • It will not receive data updates from Odyssey (Case Management System) during the maintenance window. 
  • eFile & Serve
  • The eFile & Serve website will remain online.
  • Odyssey (Case Management System) will be down, so users filing into an existing case will see the following message:

“Party and attorney information may not be current. It is still possible to E-file. (Odyssey will be unavailable).”

  • New filings can still be submitted, but case data will not update until Monday morning.


We appreciate your patience while this work is completed. If you have any questions or issues, please contact the Service Desk of the Judicial Information Division: 505-629-3291 or support@nmcourts.gov.

New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association Foundation (NMHBAF) – Apply for the 2025 NMHBA/NMHBAF Book Scholarship

Client Protection Fund – Notice of Commissioner Vacancy


One  Commissioner appointment for a three-year term for the Client Protection Fund will be made in accordance with Rule 17A-005 (B). The purpose of the Client Protection Fund is to promote public confidence in the administration of justice and the integrity of the legal profession by reimbursing losses caused by the dishonest conduct of lawyers admitted and licensed to practice law in the courts of New Mexico. The new term will begin Jan. 1, 2026. Applicants must be active members of the State Bar of New Mexico. Anyone interested in serving on the Commission should send a letter of interest and brief résumé to kate.kennedy@sbnm.org.

 

Updates & Announcements From The New Mexico State Bar Foundation's

Center for Legal Education

CLE Course Highlights

Section & Division Spotlight

2025 New Mexico Tax Conference

In collaboration with the

Tax Section


.

Dec. 10, 2025

In-Person or Virtual

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (MT)

5.5 G, 1.0 EP

2025 Natural Resource, Energy and Environmental Law Institute

In collaboration with the

NREEL Section



Dec. 12, 2025

In-Person or Virtual

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (MT)

4.4 G, 1.0 EIJ & 1.0 EP

 
 
 

Legal Well Being

The New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program (NM LAP)

Donate to the NM LAP's In This Together Fund

Judicial Wellness Program (NMJWP)

Did you know… JWELL sends out monthly eblasts that address topics specific to issues that judges experience? They are one of the ways that JWELL supports the wellbeing of our judiciary. These eblasts are created by a group of attorneys, judges, staff members of AOC, and staff members of the State Bar of New Mexico. We add articles and videos, as well as personal stories from our judges that incorporate well-being tips and reflections that aim to decrease stress and increase job satisfaction.


This publication, SBNM Enews, aims to not only keep you informed of events but also to highlight all that SBNM offers you as an attorney. If there is something you want to see that is not here, contact us and give us your feedback. We are all here to serve you!


Please visit our website to find out more about our JWELL services. https://www.sbnm.org/Member-Services/New-Mexico-Judicial-Wellness-Program

Equity in Justice (EIJ)

The mission of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Equity in Justice Program is to cultivate and grow a legal profession in New Mexico that is representative of and reflective of the people of New Mexico.

 

Important Notices, Announcements and Deadlines

State Bar Notices 


Court Notices


Legal Community Notices

 

Pro Bono and Volunteer Opportunities

The New Mexico State Bar Foundation and the legal organizations it supports all provide rich and significant opportunities to provide pro bono and volunteer legal service to underserved populations in New Mexico. Take a look below at some of New Mexico's most impactful options for serving the state's diverse communities.

News & Announcements

The New Mexico Medical Review Commission invites all State Bar of New Mexico licensees to volunteer as hearing panelists to review malpractice claims against qualified medical providers by the Medical Malpractice Act.


Volunteer panelists provide an important public service. The Commission relies exclusively on volunteer medical providers and attorneys to serve as hearing panelists.


Attorneys who volunteer for hearing panel are eligible for one (1) General Continuing Legal Educaiton (CLE) credit per panel, up to four (4) credits per year.

The Election Official Legal Defense Network (EOLDN) is a nationwide, nonpartisan project that connects election administrators who have been harassed, intimidated, and targeted due to their election duties with attorneys who can give legal guidance and, where appropriate, representation. Interested attorneys can review the EOLDN FAQ and watch a 15-minute orientation video here. They can then join the network by completing our participation form. Questions are welcome at outreach@eoldn.org. Election law experience is not necessary.

 
 

Legal Clinics & Workshops

Divorce Options Workshop

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Consumer Debt Bankruptcy Workshop

Legal Resources for the Elderly Workshop

For more information on the Volunteer Attorney Referral process, and to learn about the volunteer attorney pool for LREP or the Modest Means Helpline please click the button below.

Featured Member Benefit

The Solutions Group


The Solutions Group partners with the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program to offer comprehensive, state-wide Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services to members of the New Mexico legal community and their immediate family members.


Services include up to four complimentary counseling sessions per issue per year, addressing any mental or behavioral health, addiction, relationship conflict, anxiety and/or depression issue. These sessions are conducted by licensed professional therapists. Additional no-cost services encompass management consultation, stress management education, critical incident stress debriefing, video counseling, and a 24/7 call center. Providers are available statewide. 


  • To access this service call505-254-3555 and identify with NMLAP. All calls are confidential.
State Bar of New Mexico | 505-797-6000 | info@sbnm.org | www.sbnm.org