There are two ways to access New Mexico public court records: Case Lookup and Secured Odyssey Public Access (SOPA), as provided by the New Mexico Supreme Court Order No. 17-8500-001. Case Access Policy for Online Court Records
CASE LOOKUP – NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Online access is available for New Mexico District Court, Metropolitan Court, Magistrate Court, Municipal Court, and Appellate Court records at the New Mexico Case Lookup. To request access to records prior to 1997, complete an online request here.
Exceptions:
- For security purposes, Personal Identifying Information (PII), such as social security number and address information is not available.
- Municipal court data is limited to criminal Domestic Violence and DWI historic convictions beginning September 1, 1991.
- Effective July 1, 2007 the New Mexico Judiciary no longer displays juvenile criminal cases.
- Effective July 1, 2008, the New Mexico Judiciary no longer displays Family Violence Protection Act Order of Protection cases.
SECURED ODYSSEY PUBLIC ACCESS – REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Online access is available to New Mexico District Court, Magistrate Court, Metropolitan Court, and Appellate Court records for those who meet the criteria.
An application process is required to gain access to case information at either the Tier 1 or Tier 2 levels.
Due to varying restrictions on public access for certain case types as provided by law, cases in SOPA are divided into three tiers with three corresponding levels of access, which are defined as follows:
Tier 1: Most cases that are viewable in SOPA fall within Tier 1, including most civil, probate, domestic relations, and criminal case types. To request login credentials to view SOPA cases in Tier 1 you must complete Part A of the application and the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts’ Terms of Use and Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Tier 2: Cases in Tier 2 include delinquency proceedings in Children’s Court and criminal proceedings that involve Domestic Violence. To request login credentials to view SOPA cases in Tier 2, you must complete Part B of the application.
Tier 3: Cases in Tier 3 are subject to strict confidentiality protections and therefore are not viewable in SOPA. Tier 3 cases include proceedings under the Abuse and Neglect Act, the Families in Need of Court-Ordered Services Act, adoption proceedings, parentage proceedings, and mental health proceedings. Proceedings under the Family Violence Protection Act, i.e. civil domestic violence proceedings, are also in Tier 3, but for public safety purposes, only Law Enforcement Officers may view these cases.
The applicant requesting access must submit the application. Only one application per email, as each applicant will have a unique login.
Glossary of Terms
Attorney = Attorney licensed by the NM Supreme Court and in good standing
Attorney Staff = Staff working under the direct supervision of an attorney
Justice Partner = State, municipal (per NMSA 1978, Section 3-1-2(G)) or federal law enforcement, corrections agencies, compliance programs (per NMSA 1978, Section 31-20-5.1), municipal judges and court staff, and any state or federal agency involved in adult, family or child welfare.
Pro Hac Vice = Out of state licensed attorney admitted to practice by the New Mexico Supreme Court on a specific case
Press = Includes any person who regularly gathers, prepares, photographs, records, writes, edits, reports, or publishes news or information about matters of public interest in any medium and who successfully applies to participate in online access and agrees to comply with all court rules
Applications for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Secured Odyssey Public Access (Part A and Part B):
If you are a New Mexico attorney (or Pro Hac Vice) in good standing: Attorney Application
If you are a New Mexico Justice Partner: Justice Partner Application
Regardless of your Justice Partner affiliation, if you are an attorney or staff of an attorney, you must complete the attorney or attorney staff application.
If you are staff for a New Mexico attorney: Staff Application
If you are a member of the Press: Press Application