Information Available From The Court Clerk

Court Staff Can Provide:

• The status of a specific case, unless the case (or information in the case) is "sequestered" (not available for public inspection because of state law or a judge's decision).
• The court file on a specific case, unless the case is "sequestered" for you to review.
• General Information on court rules, procedures and practices.
• Court-approved forms (forms are not available for all legal proceedings).
• Guidance on how to compute deadlines and due dates.
• Court schedules and information on how to get matters scheduled.
• Court staff do not know the answers to all questions about court rules, procedures and practices. They have been instructed not to answer questions if they do not know the correct answer.

Court Staff Cannot:

• Give advice about whether you should file a case or whether you should take any particular action in a case.
• Fill out a form for you or tell you what words to put on a form.
• Advise you what to say in court.
• Speculate about what decision the judge might make or what sentence the judge might impose.
• Legal advice: Court staff provide information, not legal advice.

If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, you may wish to call the Lawyers Care Referral Program of the New Mexico State Bar for a referral. In Albuquerque, call 505-797-6066; in areas outside of Albuquerque, call 1-800-876-6227.

Remember - The court, including the judge and all court staff, must remain impartial. They do not take sides in any matter coming before the Court.

Promulgated by the Supreme Court of New Mexico June 11, 1998.