Welcome to the District of New Mexico's Press and Media Information page. The District of New Mexico is committed to facilitating access to case information, documents, and proceedings to ensure fair and open access to the judiciary. This court is located within the Tenth Circuit, which also includes Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming.
Attending Proceedings
Courtrooms are generally open to the public, so journalists do not need special credentials to attend public proceedings. During high profile trials, the Court may designate an overflow courtroom to which a video feed of the hearing will be streamed for the public should the live courtroom be full. Overflow courtrooms are most often used during voir dire (jury selection), when the majority of the seating in the live courtroom is reserved for potential jurors and family members.
Rule for Cellphone, Laptops, and Other Electronic Devices
Unless otherwise authorized by the Court, Local Rule of Civil Procedure 83.1 states that no cameras, cellular telephones with cameras, transmitters, receivers or recording equipment may be brought into or used in any courtroom or court environs. Environs include the entire floor where a courtroom is located, the entire floor where the grand jury meets, and the entire floor where the chambers of any Magistrate or District Judge is located. View the entire Rule for additional guidance and a list of exemptions.
Resources for Journalists
- Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER)
- United States Court Opinions - District of New Mexico
- A Journalist's Guide to the Federal Courts
- FJC: Research About the Courts
- History of Cameras, Broadcasting, and Remote Public Access in Courts
- Glossary of Legal Terms
Additional questions can be directed to the Clerk's Office. Court personnel are unable to comment on any pending litigation, cannot provide case-related information beyond that which is available through PACER, and can only respond to basic procedural questions.