New Mexico Statutes Chapter 19. Public Lands § 19-4-21. Adverse claims; litigation

In case there shall be adverse claimants to such lands, or to any part, parcel or share thereof, either party may bring a suit against the adverse claimant or claimants, in the district court of the judicial district, or in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the lands shall be situated, or in any county to which the county in which such lands shall be situated is attached for judicial purposes: provided, always, that no judge of the district court, or county judge, who has been an adverse claimant, directly or indirectly, of any portion of the lands embraced within such towns, or who is a party to any action brought to determine a right to a conveyance of any portion of the lands within such town, shall entertain, hear or determine any such claims, by or between any parties whomsoever; but in all such cases, if the cause shall be pending in a district court, the judge thereof shall order all papers, with a transcript of the record in the cause, to be transmitted to another judicial district, as in cases of changes of venue, and if the cause shall be pending in a county court, the judge thereof shall order all papers, with a transcript of the record, to be transmitted to the district court of said county, and the cause shall proceed in the courts to which the same is removed as if originally instituted in that court: provided, also, that the laws applicable to a change of venue, shall apply to such actions: and provided, also, that nothing in this chapter shall prevent the district or probate judge of the district or county in which such lands are situated from executing any and all conveyances of such lands, pursuant to the determination of such action. Suits shall be brought against adverse claimants or defendants, and it shall not be necessary to make the judge, or corporate authorities, parties thereto. The complaint must show what interest or estate in the lands in controversy the plaintiff claims. The answer, pleadings and other proceedings shall be as in cases in chancery, except that oral testimony may be introduced upon the trial, and the evidence, if not in the form of depositions, shall be reduced to writing, certified by the judge and filed with the papers in the cause.