Emilio J. Chavez at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Emilio J. Chavez
Chief Judge · Eighth Judicial District Court
Biography
Professional career
- The Chief District Court Judge of the Eighth Judicial District in New Mexico, appointed in 2015 and serving as chief judge since 2019
- Appointments: Elected/appointed to the Eighth Judicial District Court in 2015; became chief judge in 2019
- Practiced with Slover and Loftus from 2004 to 2006, then served as a prosecutor in the Eighth Judicial District from 2006 to 2015
- As chief judge, he leads the district’s judicial operations and participates in statewide judicial committees
Education
- University of New Mexico School of Law — J.D. (2004)
- Grinnell College — Economics — B.A. (2001)
Additional information
- Became chief judge in 2019 and currently serves in Division I.
- Appointed to the Eighth Judicial District Court in 2015 and elected in 2016.
- His court biography describes energy and transportation practice in Washington, D.C., more than 150 jury trials as lead prosecutor, and prior adjunct economics teaching at UNM-Taos.
- Judge Chavez presides over criminal and civil cases in the Eighth Judicial District, which covers Taos County and surrounding areas.
- Judge Chavez’s profile is maintained on the New Mexico Courts official judicial roster and is also listed in the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission records
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
Eighth 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 ↗eighthdistrict.nmcourts.gov
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View eighthdistrict.nmcourts.gov ↗eighthdistrict.nmcourts.gov
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View eighthdistrict.nmcourts.gov ↗