New Mexico courts implement stay-at-home precautions during COVID-19 public health emergency; all non-emergency court hearings must be conducted by telephone or video teleconferencing, linked here.
On March 23, 2020, New Mexico Department of Health Secretary announced a new public health emergency order suspending operations of all businesses and nonprofit entities except for those deemed essential, and further restricting mass gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All New Mexicans must immediately heed the directive to stay home except as needed to maintain continuity of functions critical to public health and safety.
Judges must conduct audio and video teleconferencing for civil and criminal proceedings, except when an emergency requires in-person appearances. This lessens the need for attorneys and litigants to appear in-person at courthouses.
Courts are using Google Meet to facilitate teleconferencing because users can access the free service by creating a Google email account. Since the state declared a public health emergency, judges and litigants have been encouraged to use teleconferencing when possible.
While limits on “mass gatherings” established by the state public health order do not apply to courthouses because courts provide essential services, courts will limit the number of people to no more than 15 in courtrooms and other locations inside a courthouse to promote social distancing recommended by public health officials. Previously, the restriction was 25 or fewer people. More information can be found linked here.
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