Bernalillo County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Bernalillo County has a population of nearly 674,700 residents, with a median age of 38.6 and a median household income of $62,220. The county's court system handles a wide variety of cases through several key courts, including the District Court, Metropolitan Court, Municipal Court, and Probate Court. Each court has a distinct role in protecting the rights of the citizens of Bernalillo County and ensuring justice for everyone in an efficient and effective manner.

The District Court is a court of general jurisdiction that conducts jury trials. It hears cases involving torts, contracts, real property rights, and estates. The court has exclusive jurisdiction over domestic relations, mental health cases, appeals from administrative agencies and lower courts, various civil matters, misdemeanors, and criminal appeals, as well as, handles juvenile cases.

The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, responsible for conducting jury trials, adjudicating cases involving torts, contracts, landlord/tenant disputes (up to $10,000), felony first appearances, misdemeanors, DWI/DUI, domestic violence, and other traffic violations. The Municipal Court has limited jurisdiction and does not conduct jury trials. It handles cases involving petty misdemeanors, DWI/DUI, traffic violations, and other municipal ordinance violations. The Probate Court in the county has limited jurisdiction and does not conduct jury trials. It hears cases related to informal probate and estate matters, handling uncontested cases, while contested cases are referred to the District Court.

The Bernalillo County Clerk of Courts oversees the management of circuit court case records and other administrative tasks. While most records are publicly accessible, some information may be redacted in copies provided to the public, such as juvenile records. Once a court order or special permission has been granted, these types of files will be available to those who received permission. Access to Bernalillo County court records is facilitated through the New Mexico Case Lookup portal. The county's Probate Court provides an online resource for persons looking for case information from the court. The county records an annual crime rate of 30.41 incidents per 1,000 residents. The trial courts in the county handle between 10,000 and 15,000 cases annually.

In summary, Bernalillo County operates a comprehensive court system which includes the District Court, Metropolitan Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court handling a wide range of cases. They work in conjunction to one another to ensure that all matters are handled properly within the county.