---
title: "John P. Sugg | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-sugg-twelfth-judicial-district-court-nm"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# John P. Sugg

Twelfth Judicial District Court · District Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Twelfth Judicial District Court
- State: New Mexico
- Role: District Court Judge
- Service status: active

## Summary

John P. Sugg — Twelfth Judicial District Court

## Biography

### Professional career

- Before the bench, he was district attorney from September 2016 through December 2020, following prosecution work in Albuquerque and supervisory prosecution work in Lincoln County.

### Education

- A native of Albuquerque and St. Pius X graduate, he obtained a summa cum laude B.A. in political science and criminology and a magna cum laude J.D. at the University of New Mexico, joining the Order of the Coif.

### Additional information

- He chairs the district’s Pro Bono Committee, serves on the state civil-procedure rules committee, and presided over its Veterans’ Treatment Court from 2021 to 2025.
- John P. Sugg serves in Division V of New Mexico’s Twelfth Judicial District Court, primarily in Lincoln County.
- The court describes a general-jurisdiction docket covering criminal, civil, family, probate, administrative, and children’s matters.
- He also founded a law firm in Ruidoso.

## Sources

- [twelfthdistrict.nmcourts.gov](https://twelfthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/)

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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.