Dustin K. Hunter at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Dustin K. Hunter
District Court Judge · Fifth Judicial District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge of the 5th Judicial District Court of New Mexico, serving in Division X (Chaves County) since his 2016 appointment by Governor Susana Martinez
Education
- The cited overview lists a political science and government bachelor’s degree from Cameron University in 1995 and a J.D. from Texas Tech University in 1998.
- Undergraduate degree — Cameron University
Additional information
- Appointed May 2016; elected November 2016.
- Dustin K. Hunter joined New Mexico’s Fifth Judicial District Court in 2016, following appointment by Governor Susana Martinez to fill the vacancy left by Steven L. Bell.
- Before joining the judiciary, he operated Kraft & Hunter in Roswell from 2004 to 2016, practicing family law, bankruptcy, personal injury and criminal defense.
- It records Texas bar admission in 1998 and New Mexico admission in 2005, and membership in the Chaves County Bar Association.
- Before joining the bench, Hunter was owner of Kraft & Hunter, LLP in Roswell, New Mexico, where he handled family law, bankruptcy, personal injury, and criminal defense cases He also had prior legal experience in insurance, criminal and civil defense, and juvenile and family law
- Hunter’s judicial tenure includes both appointment and retention elections, reflecting New Mexico’s system for local trial court judges.
- His listed assignment is Division X, based in Roswell, within the district serving Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Media Electronic Device Coverage
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.
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 ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
New Mexico Judiciary remote-proceedings standards treat virtual courtrooms as formal courtroom settings and impose conduct expectations for remote participants.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
New Mexico Rule 23-107 — media coverage
Fifth Judicial District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
New Mexico Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New Mexico Courts official judicial roster ↗Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings ↗New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards ↗