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State Bar Notices

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State Bar Notices

 

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION FOR COMMENT
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SUPREME COURT RULES OF
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

May 15, 2026


In accordance with the Supreme Court’s out-of-cycle rulemaking process under Rule 23-
106.1 NMRA, which includes publication of proposed rule amendments for public comment, the 
following proposed rule amendments are recommended to the rules of practice and procedure as 
summarized below. To view the text of the proposals, you may click on the corresponding proposal 
number on the Supreme Court’s website at https://supremecourt.nmcourts.gov/rules-formsfiles/rules-forms/open-for-comment/. To comment on the proposed rule amendments before they 
are submitted to the Court for final consideration, you may submit your comment electronically 
through the Supreme Court’s website at https://supremecourt.nmcourts.gov/rules-formsfiles/rules-forms/open-for-comment/, by email to rules.supremecourt@nmcourts.gov, by fax to 
505-827-4837, or by mail to:

Elizabeth A. Garcia, Chief Clerk of Court
New Mexico Supreme Court
P.O. Box 848
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0848

Your comments must be received by the Clerk’s Office on or before June 14, 2026, to be 
considered by the Court. Please note that submitted comments may be posted on the Supreme 
Court’s website for public viewing.
______________________________________________________

Children’s Court Rules Committee

Proposal 2026-042 – Joinder and Parents as Parties in Delinquency Cases
[Amended Rule 10-121 NMRA]

   The Children’s Court Rules Committee recommends amending Rule 10-121 NMRA to 
allow the state to name a child’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian as a party in a delinquency 
proceeding. The amendments also allow the court to join or remove parties in delinquency 
proceedings when it is in the best interest of the child. The Committee also recommends 
amendments to Rule 10-121 that reflect Rule 1-019(A)(1) NMRA’s standard for joinder, in 
accordance with State ex. rel Children, Youth & Families Dep’t. v. Calvin T., 2025-NMSC-052, 
580 P.3d 794. 

Uniform Jury Instructions (UJI)-Criminal Committee
Proposal 2026-043 – Physical Force or Violence 
[New UJI 14-986 NMRA]
 

The UJI-Criminal Committee recommends the adoption of new UJI 14-986 NMRA. The 
proposed new instruction provides a definition for the “physical force or physical violence” 
alternative for sexual offenses contained in NMSA 1978, Sections 30-9-10 to -16 (1975, as 
amended through 2009), in accordance with State v. Apodaca, 2025-NMSC-015, ¶ 37, 572 P.3d 
913.


THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS SUMMARIZED ABOVE
CAN BE VIEWED IN THEIR ENTIRETY AT THE
NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT WEBSITE

https://supremecourt.nmcourts.gov/rules-forms-files/rules-forms/open-for-comment/

District of New Mexico - Notice to Federal Bench & Bar Association Members

The 2026 Bench & Bar Spending Plan has been approved in the amount of $88,975.00 for 13 identified projects. To view the detailed spending plan, please see the “Attorney Information” page on the Court’s website at https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/.

Board of Bar Commissioners - Election Notice 2025

Notice is hereby given for the 2025 State Bar of New Mexico Board of Bar Commissioners election. Nine (9) positions will expire Dec. 31 and will be filled by this election. For the full election notice with the positions and judicial districts, and a Nomination Petition, please visit www.sbnm.org/BBCnominationpetition2025. The deadline to submit nomination petitions is 5 p.m. (MT), Oct. 6.

Communications Advisory Committee - Join the New Committee!

The Communications Advisory Committee, which the Board of Bar Commissioners established earlier this year, is a committee that sources and reviews content for the Bar Bulletin. There are currently 10 open seats on the Committee, which will begin work in 2025. To apply for the Committee, please submit a letter of interest and your experience in this area. Send your email application by email to notices@sbnm.org by Aug. 31 for consideration.

Employee Assistance Program: Managing Stress Tool for Members

The Solutions Group, the State Bar's free Employee Assistance Program, announces a new platform for managing stress. My Stress Tools is an online suite of stress management and resilience-building resources which includes: training videos, relaxation music, meditation, stress tests, a journaling feature and much more. My Stress Tools helps you understand the root causes of your stress and gives you the help you need to dramatically reduce your stress and build your resilience. Your Employee Assistance Program is available to help you, 24/7. Call at 866-254-3555. Access the stress management toolkit HERE.

Monday Night Support Group

The Monday Night Attorney Support Group meets at 5:30 p.m. (MT) on Mondays by Zoom. This group will be meeting every Monday night via Zoom. The intention of this support group is the sharing of anything you are feeling, trying to manage or struggling with. It is intended as a way to connect with colleagues and to know you are not in this alone. Join the meeting via Zoom at https://bit.ly/attorneysupportgroup.

Defenders in Recovery!

Defenders in Recovery meets every Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. Our meeting schedule is as follows:
• 1st Wednesday of the month: AA meeting—discussion
• 2nd Wednesday of the month: NA Meeting—discussion
• 3rd Wednesday of the month—Book study. We will start on the AA Big Book and work our way through different AA and NA literature, including the Big Book, the Blue Book, Living Clean, 12x12, etc.
• 4th Wednesday of the month—Recovery Speaker and Monthly Birthday Celebration. 
These meetings are open to all who seek recovery. We are a group of defenders supporting each other, sharing in each other’s recovery. We are an anonymous group and not affiliated with any agency or business. Anonymity is the foundation of all of our traditions. Who we see in this meeting, what we say in this meeting, stays in this meeting. For the meeting link, send an email to defendersinrecovey@gmail.com or call Jen at 575-288-7958.