New Mexico Statutes Chapter 1. Elections § 1-26-2. Judicial retention; eligibility for retention; definitions

A. A justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of appeals, district court judge or metropolitan court judge is eligible for nonpartisan judicial retention after the justice or judge has first been elected to that position in a partisan election.

B. In the last year of the term of office for the position to which an eligible justice or eligible judge was elected in a partisan election or by a previous nonpartisan retention election, the eligible justice or judge desiring to continue to serve in that position shall be subject to a nonpartisan judicial retention election as provided in the Nonpartisan Judicial Retention Act.

C. Declarations of candidacy for nonpartisan judicial retention for the supreme court, court of appeals, district court or metropolitan court shall be filed with the proper filing officer between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-third day after the primary election.

D. Each declaration of candidacy for nonpartisan judicial retention shall be delivered for filing in person by the eligible justice or judge therein named or by a person acting by virtue of written authorization. The proper filing officer shall not accept for filing from any one individual more than one declaration of candidacy for nonpartisan judicial retention.

E. As used in the Nonpartisan Judicial Retention Act, “eligible justice” or “eligible judge” means a justice or judge who has been elected to that position in a partisan election.