--- title: "Drew D. Tatum | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/drew-d-tatum-district-court-judge-ninth-judicial-district-court-nm" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Drew D. Tatum Ninth Judicial District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Ninth 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 - Drew D. Tatum is a judge of Division II of the Ninth Judicial District Court in New Mexico, appointed by former Governor Bill Richardson in 2007 and re‐elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020 - 2005–2007: Tatum & McDowell Law Firm — Partner, Clovis, NM - 2004–2005: Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office — Deputy District Attorney - 2000–2004: U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps — Judge Advocate, Captain - Air Force JAG officer, prosecutor and private attorney ### Education - University of Tulsa — J.D. (2000) - Psychology and Political Science — University of New Mexico — B.A. (1995) ### Additional information - He is admitted to practice in New Mexico (2000), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (2001), the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals (2001), and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2006) - Judge Tatum’s legal expertise spans criminal law, estate planning, and probate matters. - Judicial Performance Evaluation: The New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission has recommended retention of Judge Tatum ## 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://ninthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/district-court-judges) - [Official roster](https://ninthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/district-court-judges) - [New Mexico Courts official judicial roster](https://ninthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/district-court-judges) - [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) - [ninthdistrict.nmcourts.gov](https://ninthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/district-court-judges/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/drew-d-tatum-district-court-judge-ninth-judicial-district-court-nm", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/drew-d-tatum-district-court-judge-ninth-judicial-district-court-nm", "name": "Drew D. Tatum | KnowJudges", "description": "Drew D. Tatum, Ninth 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/drew-d-tatum-district-court-judge-ninth-judicial-district-court-nm#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/drew-d-tatum-district-court-judge-ninth-judicial-district-court-nm#judge", "name": "Drew D. Tatum", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/drew-d-tatum-district-court-judge-ninth-judicial-district-court-nm", "jobTitle": "District Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Ninth Judicial District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://ninthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/district-court-judges" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of New Mexico" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Tulsa" } ] }, { "@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": "Drew D. Tatum", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/drew-d-tatum-district-court-judge-ninth-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.