Seventh Judicial District Court
About the Court
Catron County
Catron County is the largest county by area in New Mexico, and contains 6.929 square miles. Catron County was founded in 1921. As of the 2010 census, Catron County had a population of 3,725. The county seat, and the Catron County Courthouse, is located in Reserve, New Mexico. The Catron County Courthouse was constructed in 1969 and houses the District Court as well as all of the other county administrative offices.
Catron County does not have a resident District Judge. Each of the three Judges in the 7 th Judicial District travel to Catron County to hear cases.
Sierra County
Sierra County consists of 4,236 square miles, was founded in 1884 and as of the 2010 census had a population of 11,988. The county seat, and the Sierra County District Courthouse, is located in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. On March 31, 1950, Hot Springs, New Mexico, changed its name to Truth or Consequences as part of a nationally televised game show by that name. The Sierra County District Court building presently used by the Court was constructed in 1939, as a WPA project. In 2009, Sierra County renovated the Court building into its present, more modern configuration.
The Honorable Roscoe A. Woods, the Division II Judge for the 7th Judicial District, has his principal office at the Sierra County Courthouse. The Court has a staff of six Court employees. Sierra County District Court operates an Adult Drug Court program that began in January of 2006 as a volunteer program. In July, 2006 the 7th Judicial District Court received funding to support the program.
Socorro County
Socorro County consists of 6,649 square miles, and is the second largest county by area in New Mexico. Socorro County was founded in 1850 and as of 2010 census had a population of 17,866. The county seat, and the Socorro District Courthouse, is located in Socorro, New Mexico. The Socorro County District Court building was constructed in 1940. In 2001 Socorro County renovated and updated the Courthouse into its present configuration.
The principal office of Division I District Judge Mercedes C. Murphy, and the offices of Court Executive Officer Jason E. Jones and Child Support Hearing Officer Joseph CampBell are housed at the Socorro County Courthouse, along with a staff of sixteen Court employees. Socorro County District Court operates an Adult Drug Court Program that began in July, 2007.
Torrance County
Torrance County consists of 3,346 square miles, was founded in 1903 and as of the 2010 census had a population of 16,383. The county seat, and the Torrance County Courthouse, is located in Estancia, New Mexico.
The Neil Mertz Judicial Complex was named for the Honorable Neil Mertz, deceased, and was constructed in 2003. The Neil Mertz Judicial Complex houses all of the Torrance County District Court operations, along with the offices of the Torrance County District Attorney.
The principal office for Division III District Judge Shannon L. Murdock-Poff is at the Neil Mertz Judicial Complex along with a staff of seven Court employees. Torrance County District Court operates an Adult Drug Court Program that began in July, 2007.