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title: "Denise Barela-Shepherd | KnowJudges"
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---

# Denise Barela-Shepherd

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


### Education

- University of New Mexico in — J.D. (1989)
- A native New Mexican and Valley High School graduate, she obtained a B.S. in microbiology from Texas Tech University

### Additional information

- Denise Barela-Shepherd has served in Division XVIII of New Mexico’s Second Judicial District Court since December 2003, following service on the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court from 1997 to 2003.
- Before taking the bench, she practiced privately and held the role of general counsel for the New Mexico Department of Health.
- Her current listed assignment is in the Civil Division; her prior judicial work included criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies.
- The cited court biography describes service on statewide and district court security committees and the Bench Bar Media Committee.

## 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)
- [seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory/)

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## 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.