About the New Mexico Court of Appeals

The New Mexico Court of Appeals is one of New Mexico's most important courts, ruling on nearly 1,000 complicated and intricate cases each year. The Court of Appeals is often the “last word” in the judicial process, making the final decision in most cases that are appealed from the trial courts. Those decisions affect each of us in our everyday lives.

The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to hear appeals from trial court decisions across the State of New Mexico; and, it reviews decisions in all areas of the law with the exception of criminal cases involving sentences of death or life imprisonment, appeals from the Public Regulation Commission, and cases involving habeas corpus.

The Court of Appeals is made up of 10 Judges who work in panels of three, requiring at least two of three panel members to agree on the manner in which a case is decided. 

The Court of Appeals has two offices - one in Santa Fe in the Supreme Court Building, and the other in the Pamela Minzner Law Center, adjacent to the University of New Mexico School of Law.