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Notice of Right to Inspect Public Records

By law, under the Inspection of Public Records Act, NMSA 1978, § 14-2-1 to -12 (1947, as amended through 2025) (“IPRA”) every person has the right to inspect public records of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. There is no cost to view or inspect public records. Compliance with requests to inspect public records is an integral part of the routine duties of the employees of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

What Are Public Records?

As defined in the Inspection of Public Records Act, “public records” are “all documents, papers, letters, books, maps, tapes, photographs, recordings and other materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that are used, created, received, maintained or held by or on behalf of any public body and relate to public business, whether or not the records are required by law to be created or maintained.” (NMSA 1978, Section 14-2-6) However, certain types of records, such as law enforcement records that reveal confidential sources and records pertaining to physical or mental examinations are not subject to public inspection. (NMSA 1978, Section 14-2-1)

Procedures for Requesting Inspection

To submit a records request to the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court to inspect or copy Metropolitan Court public records, you may:

  • Visit the Records Viewing Room on the 1st floor of the Courthouse; or
  • Send an email request addressed to metrrecordscustodian@nmcourts.gov; or
  • Submit a request through the statewide portal for the judiciary by using the following link: https://ipra.nmcourts.gov/; or
  • Send a letter request addressed to:
    • Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
    • c/o Records Custodian
    • 401 Lomas Blvd. NW
    • Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102

A person desiring to inspect public records may submit a request to the Records Custodian orally (by speaking with Court staff in the Metropolitan Court’s Records Viewing Room on the First Floor of the Courthouse in the Customer Service Division) or in writing. However, the procedures and penalties prescribed by IPRA apply only to written requests. A written request must contain the name, address and telephone number of the person making the request. The request must describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable the Records Custodian to identify and locate the requested records.

The Records Custodian must permit inspection immediately or as soon as practicable, but no later than Fifteen (15) calendar days after the Records Custodian receives the inspection request. If inspection is not permitted within Three (3) business days, the person making the request will receive a written response explaining when the records will be available for inspection or when the public body will respond to the request. If any of the records sought are not available for public inspection, the person making the request is entitled to a written response from the Records Custodian explaining the reasons inspection has been denied. The written denial shall be delivered or mailed within Fifteen (15) calendar days after the Records Custodian receives the request for inspection.

Procedures for Requesting Copies and Fees

If a person requesting inspection would like a copy of a public record, a reasonable fee will be charged as required by NMSA 1978, § 35-6-1.

  • $0.50 per page for a photocopy of a Court Record.
  • $1.00 per page for a computer-generated or electronically transferred copy of a Court Record.
  • For certified copies of a Court Record, an additional $0.50 per page is charged.
  • $5.00 per CD

The Records Custodian may request that applicable fees for copying public records be paid in advance, before the copies are made. A receipt indicating that the fees have been paid will be provided upon request to the person requesting the copies.

Records that May be Available at Other Courts

The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is a Court of limited jurisdiction. That means it handles petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor crimes, and civil cases in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $10,000, subject to the other jurisdictional limits of the Court. The Judges at Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court also conduct Felony First Appearances and Preliminary Examination Hearings. So, for example, the Metropolitan Court does not have jurisdiction over felony cases that have been indicted or bound over for trial in the District Court or over family law cases (including divorce and child custody) or over probate cases. If your inquiry involves such matters, you may want to contact the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque (505-841-7421) or visit their website at: https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/ or the Bernalillo County Probate Court (505-468-1233) or visit their website at: https://www.bernco.gov/probate-court/, as applicable.

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The judicial branch of New Mexico consists of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, 34 district courts and 43 magistrate courts in 13 judicial districts, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, 33 county probate courts, and 78 municipal courts serving the people of the state.

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