FAQ: What Court Staff Can and Cannot Provide

| Court staff can provide:
- The status of a specific case, unless the case (or information
in the case) is "sequestered" (not available for
public inspection because of state law or a judge's decision)
- The court file on a specific case, unless the case is
"sequestered," for you to review
General information on court rules, procedures and practices
- Court-approved forms (Forms are not available for all
legal proceedings.)
- Guidance on how to compute deadlines and due dates
- Court schedules and information on how to get matters
scheduled
Court staff do not know the answers to all questions about
court rules, procedures and practices. They have been instructed
not to answer questions if they do not know the correct answer. |
Court staff cannot:
- Give advice about whether you should file a case or whether
you should take any particular action in a case
- Fill out a form for you or tell you what words to put
in a form
- Advise you what to say in court
- Speculate about what decision the judge might make or
what sentence the judge might impose
Legal advice: Court staff provide information,
not legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact
a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, you may wish to
call the Lawyers Care Referral Program of the New Mexico State
Bar for a referral. In Albuquerque, call 797-6066; in areas
outside of Albuquerque, call 1-800-876-6227.
Remember -- The court, including the judge
and all court staff, must remain impartial. They do not take
sides in any matter coming before the court. |