Otero County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Otero County was established on January 30, 1899, and named after Miguel Otero Antonio. He was the territorial governor when the county was created. Its county seat is in Alamogordo and Otero County is home to a population of over 67,800 people. It is the third-largest county in New Mexico. The District Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts are stakeholders in the legal system of Otero County and defend the fundamental human rights of the public in the jurisdiction they cover.

The 12th Judicial District Court in Alamogordo is a court of general jurisdiction and jury trials occur here regularly. It hears criminal and civil cases. Some of the cases heard in the District Court are tort, real estate property, and contract cases. It has exclusive jurisdiction over domestic relations, misdemeanors, and mental health cases. In addition, it is a court of appeal for the lower courts in the county. The Magistrate Court hears civil ($10,000 or less) DUI, landlord-tenant right ($0-$10,000), and misdemeanor traffic cases. The Probate Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, hearing only informal probate cases. On the contrary, contested estate administration cases go to the District Court. The Municipal Courts that hold traffic citations, petty misdemeanors, juvenile preliminary arraignments, animal control violations, municipal ordinance violations, and driving while intoxicated hearings include Alamogordo Municipal Court in Alamogordo, Cloudcroft Municipal Court located in Cloudcroft, and Tularosa Municipal Court in Tularosa. No jury trials are held here.

According to the New Mexico Judiciary Annual Report of 2022, all district courts statewide had an aggregate of 104,172 cases filed, comprising new, reactivated, and opened cases. The rate at which cases were terminated was at 100% meaning as many cases that were treated were terminated. Otero County and Lincoln County which are in the 12th Judicial District together had 5,060 cases in 2022, also terminating as many cases as the number of cases it received. The public can obtain copies of court records on the Otero County Judicial District Court website or download court records on the New Mexico Case Lookup page. However, for access to court records before 1997, you need to fill out and submit an online document.

Otero County has achieved enhanced transparency through electronic access to court activities at no cost. Online dispute resolution was launched to help people negotiate online for the settlement of debts and money lawsuits. Through DWI courts and mental treatment courts, Otero County can supervise and curb criminal activities. In short, the District Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts have contributed immensely to the escalation of justice.