A ceremonial proclamation declared January 10 "Supreme Court of New Mexico Day" on Jan. 10, 2025, honoring the date in 1912 when the state's first justices took their oaths, an event presenter announced at a Santa Fe ceremony.

The presenter, identified in the transcript as Unidentified Speaker 1, said the declaration recognizes the court’s founding following New Mexico’s statehood and noted that “January 10 of each year shall be known as Supreme Court of New Mexico Day.” Unidentified Speaker 2 delivered an extended historical overview and administrative summary during the event.

Unidentified Speaker 2 traced the court’s origins to 1846 and the territorial judicial arrangements that preceded statehood, recounting an early incident in which a court session in a military chapel provoked local opposition and led to relocation of the proceedings. The speaker described how the territorial bench evolved and how, after statehood in January 1912, the first state justices were sworn in and served staggered initial terms determined by drawing lots.

The address named the five traditional seat labels used on the court (Roberts, Parker, Hannah, Catron and Sims) and identified the current occupants by name in the transcript. The speaker said the court has remained a five-member body since a 1929 legislative expansion and noted that, including the present chief justice, 43 people have served as chief justice and 72 individuals have served as justices since statehood.

Speakers also described the Supreme Court Building in Santa Fe, noting its 1937 dedication, WPA-era fixtures and a preservation of much of the courtroom’s original carved woodwork and symbolic motifs. The presenter cited an original construction cost of $307,000 and said several state offices were originally co-located in the building.

Turning to the court’s responsibilities, Unidentified Speaker 2 summarized its role as New Mexico’s court of last resort: mandatory exclusive appellate jurisdiction in matters such as capital appeals, appeals from the Public Regulation Commission and election challenges; discretionary review of Court of Appeals decisions; and original jurisdiction that includes supervisory control over lower courts and authority to issue extraordinary writs such as mandamus and habeas corpus.

The speaker also outlined the court’s statewide administrative duties, saying the court promulgates rules of practice and procedure, oversees more than 40 committees and commissions, and manages a statewide judiciary budget. According to the transcript, the speaker reported a judiciary budget of $253,000,000, 1,965 employees, 203 judges and 215 Administrative Office of the Courts staff.

To frame the court’s workload nationally, Unidentified Speaker 2 cited National Center for State Courts figures for 2019 showing roughly 83.2 million new cases filed in state courts compared with 376,762 filed in federal district courts, underscoring that state systems handle the vast majority of U.S. civil and criminal cases.

The presenter highlighted substantive areas in which the New Mexico Supreme Court has shaped state law, mentioning family law, business and corporate governance, oil and gas regulation, health care, voting rights and criminal justice, and credited the court with decisions expanding protections in areas such as marriage equality and victims’ rights.

The ceremony closed with thanks for the proclamation and a call to continue recognizing the court’s role in future observances; there were no votes or formal policy actions recorded at the event.