New Mexico Supreme Court hears cases in September to begin its 2026-2027 term

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 25, 2026

NM Supreme Court hears cases in September to begin its 2026-2027 term

SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court begins its 2026-2027 term next week and will conduct oral arguments in September, October and December.

Decisions will be issued by the Court on or before July 15, 2027 for cases it considers during the term. The justices completed the 2025-2026 term last month, having filed opinions and other dispositions in 65 cases.

“The Court’s term system ensures a timely resolution of cases. This benefits the parties in the case as well as trial courts, which may need to conduct further proceedings after legal issues are decided on appeal,” said Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas.

In addition to cases scheduled for the term, the Court will hear expedited appeals when necessary.

The Court live streams oral arguments of cases, and it posts a schedule of upcoming arguments on its website along with briefs that provide the written legal arguments submitted by the parties in the cases.

The justices will open the new term on Sept. 4 by hearing three cases:

· A challenge to state regulatory approval of Public Service Company of New Mexico’s plan to install smart meters for its electric customers. The devices wirelessly transmit energy use data to the utility, eliminating the need for workers to manually read meters. The case is New Mexicans for Utility Safety v. N.M. Public Regulation Commission, S-1-SC-40723.

· An appeal in a medical malpractice case. At issue is the authority of the state Superintendent of Insurance to refuse to pay court-approved settlements from a state fund and whether the Medical Malpractice Act allows lump sum payments for future medical expenses in settlements reached by the parties. The case is Murphy v. N.M. Superintendent of Insurance, S-1-SC-40815.

· The state’s appeal of the dismissal of a criminal case at the end of a six-year period in which a defendant was committed to the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute for treatment to try to restore the individual’s competency to stand trial. The district court in Bernalillo County concluded it no longer had jurisdiction over the defendant once the commitment period expired although there were pending proceedings to determine whether the defendant had been treated to competency. The commitment period was equal to the maximum sentence the defendant would have faced if convicted. The case is State v. Carter, S-SC-41150.

Here are the 45 cases to be considered during the 2026-2027 term:

State v. Gonzales, S-1-SC-40546	State v. Mendoza Espinoza, S-1-SC-40881	State v. Frazier, S-1-SC-40999
State v. Garrett, S-1-SC-40701	State v. Villareal, S-1-SC-40882	State v. Fiske, S-1-SC-41012
R&R L.L.C., v. N.M. Dept. of Transport’n, S-1-SC-40720	State v. Arias, S-1-SC-40904	State v. Toney, S-1-SC-41043
New Mexicans for Utility Safety v. N.M. Pub. Regul. Comm’n, S-1-C-40723	Espinosa v. State of N.M., S-1-SC-40942	State v. Lucero, S-1-SC-41049
State v. Jaramillo, S-1-SC-40728	State v. Arciniega-Saenz, S-1-SC-40928	Blum v. Romero, S-1-SC-41083
State v. Duhart, S-1-SC-40734	State v. Rivera, S-1-SC-40945	State v. Lujan, S-1-SC-41099
Bigney v. City of Rio Rancho,S-1-SC-40768	State v. Rios-Alderete, S-1-SC-40953	State v. Bookout, S-1-SC-41105
State v. Bonner, S-1-SC-40769	State v. Huerta, S-1-SC-40964	State v. Anderson, S-1-SC-41114
State v. Duncan, S-1-SC-40788	State v. LeFleur, S-1-SC-40965	State v. Cardenas, S-1-SC-41142
Szantho v. T.H.I. of N.M. at Sunset Villa, S-1-SC-40809	Atencio v. State, S-1-SC-40980	State v. Carter, S-1-SC-41150
Murphy v. N.M. Superintendent of Ins., S-1-SC-40815	State v. Valerio, S-1-SC-40981	State v. Gibson, S-1-SC-41163
State v. Sandoval, S-1-SC-40845	State v. Garley, S-1-SC-40982	State v. Billey, S-1-SC-41198
State v. Waller, S-1-SC-40848	Richard v. Marathon Petroleum, S-1-SC-40983	State v. Cruz, S-1-SC-41203
Martinez v. Hammonds, S-1-SC-40870	Conklin v. Sierra Vista Hospital, S-1-SC-40987	American Campus Communities, Inc., v. Bernalillo Cty. Assessor, S-1-SC-41215
Franklin v. State, S-1-SC-40874	Avila v. Butt Thorton & Baeher, S-1-SC-40992	Rodriguez v. Allstate Property & Cas. Ins., S-1-SC-41380

Cases set for oral argument will be scheduled no less than four weeks in advance and will be assigned a date in September, October or December. Any case not set for oral argument will be submitted for a decision on the briefs filed in the matter.

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The judicial branch of New Mexico consists of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, 34 district courts and 43 magistrate courts in 13 judicial districts, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, 33 county probate courts, and 78 municipal courts serving the people of the state.