--- title: "Francis J. Mathew | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/francis-j-mathew-district-court-judge-first-judicial-district-court-nm" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Francis J. Mathew First Judicial District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: First 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 - Before taking the bench, he operated Mathew Law Firm in Santa Fe, opening the practice in 2004, and earlier worked at Jones, Snead, Wertheim & Wentworth. ### Education - Law degree — University of Notre Dame — 1979 - BBA — University of Notre Dame — 1974 ### Additional information - Appointed 2013; elected 2014. - Francis J. Mathew joined Division I of New Mexico’s First Judicial District Court in January 2013, following appointment by Governor Susana Martinez after Barbara Vigil moved to the New Mexico Supreme Court. - The cited overview lists an undergraduate business administration degree from Notre Dame in 1974 and a Notre Dame J.D. in 1979, with New Mexico bar admission in 1979. - His practice encompassed commercial and domestic relations matters, trials, appeals and complex litigation in state and federal courts. - His listed civil assignment serves Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties. ## 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://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges) - [Official roster](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges) - [New Mexico Courts official judicial roster](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/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) - [nmjpec.org](https://nmjpec.org/en/judge-evaluation?election_id=402&year=2020) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/francis-j-mathew-district-court-judge-first-judicial-district-court-nm", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/francis-j-mathew-district-court-judge-first-judicial-district-court-nm", "name": "Francis J. Mathew | KnowJudges", "description": "Francis J. Mathew, First Judicial District Court. 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