--- title: "Crystal Lees | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-lees-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Crystal Lees Second Judicial District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Second Judicial District Court - State: New Mexico - Role: District Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Democratic Party judge appointed in January 2025 to Division XXIV of the Second Judicial District Court in New Mexico, serving in the Family Division and running for re‐election in 2026 - Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Crystal Lees to Division XXIV of the Second Judicial District Court on January 16, 2025, replacing retired Judge Debra Ramirez - Appointed to Division XXIV of New Mexico’s Second Judicial District Court in January 2025, succeeding retired Judge Debra Ramirez in the Family Division. - Before joining the bench, Lees held the role of a domestic relations hearing officer for the Second Judicial District Court from 2018, addressing custody, divorce, support and domestic violence matters. - Her earlier work included private practice and the New Mexico Human Services Department’s Child Support Enforcement Division ### Education ### Additional information - Appointment commenced January 18, 2025. - The cited governor’s announcement dates the appointment January 16, 2025. - She was admitted to the New Mexico bar in 2012. - She also worked in private practice and with the New Mexico Human Services Division’s Child Support Enforcement Division - Before her judicial appointment, Lees served for over a decade as a Domestic Relations Hearing Officer in the same court, presiding over child custody, divorce, child support, and domestic violence cases. - Her campaign biography identifies her as an Albuquerque native and a graduate of Sandia High School, the University of New Mexico and Texas Tech University School of Law. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media electronic device coverage Scope: statewide New Mexico Rule 23-107 authorizes broadcasting, televising, photographing, and recording in state court proceedings subject to the rule's guidelines and judicial control. Evidence excerpt: The broadcasting, televising, photographing, and recording of court proceedings in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, magistrate courts, and metropolitan courts of the State of New Mexico are hereby authorized in accordance with the guidelines promulgated herewith. [Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rule-23-107-12-20-2018.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote proceedings conduct Scope: statewide New Mexico Judiciary remote-proceedings standards treat virtual courtrooms as formal courtroom settings and impose conduct expectations for remote participants. Evidence excerpt: The courtroom, whether a physical in-person courtroom, or a virtual courtroom, remains a formal and serious setting where judges hear matters involving real people that affect real lives. [New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/04/NEW-MEXICO-JUDICIARY-REMOTE-PROCEEDINGS-AND-MEETING-STANDARDS.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory) - [Official roster](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory) - [New Mexico Courts official judicial roster](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory) - [Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rule-23-107-12-20-2018.pdf) - [New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/04/NEW-MEXICO-JUDICIARY-REMOTE-PROCEEDINGS-AND-MEETING-STANDARDS.pdf) - [www.governor.state.nm.us](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/01/16/governor-announces-judicial-appointment-of-crystal-lees/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-lees-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-lees-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "name": "Crystal Lees | KnowJudges", "description": "Crystal Lees, Second Judicial District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-lees-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-lees-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm#judge", "name": "Crystal Lees", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-lees-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "jobTitle": "District Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Second Judicial District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Texas Tech University" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New Mexico", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-mexico" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Crystal Lees", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-lees-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [New Mexico Rule 23-107 — media coverage](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-16ed52dd2958e6571bf2469d) — 2018 dated rule; not extended to Municipal Courts. Media coverage exceptions and judicial control apply. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rule-23-107-12-20-2018.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.