Kristopher N. Houghton at a glance
- Current role
- Court of Appeals Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kristopher N. Houghton
Court of Appeals Judge · New Mexico Court of Appeals
Biography
Professional career
- Houghton took the oath of office on September 5, 2025, in a public investiture ceremony led by Chief Judge Jacqueline R. Medina
- Kristopher Nicolas “Kris” Houghton is a judge of the New Mexico Court of Appeals, appointed on August 5, 2025 by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham after being recommended by the Bi‐Partisan Judicial Nominating Commission.
- The court reports service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque from 2012 to 2025, progressing from law clerk to criminal-division assistant U.S. attorney, DOJ judicial attaché in Bogotá, criminal-division chief, and civil-division work
- Law clerk for NM Supreme Court Justice Charles W. Daniels (2008–2010) and later for Court of Appeals Judge J. Miles Hanisee
- His early career encompassed clerkships for New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Charles Daniels and Appeals Judge Miles Hanisee
Education
- Houghton earned his J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law (Dean’s Award for Significant Contribution to the Law School Community).
Additional information
- Appointed to the New Mexico Court of Appeals in 2025 following a bipartisan judicial-nominating recommendation.
- Captain in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps, with service in the Air Force Reserve and Inactive Ready Reserve
- He succeeded Judge Kristina Bogardus, whose retirement created the vacancy.
- He also held the role of an Air Force Reserve judge advocate, attaining captain before entering the Inactive Ready Reserve.
- His academic qualifications include his law degree at the University of New Mexico; after earlier attendance at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and Spanish at California State University, San Marcos.
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
New Mexico Court of Appeals
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 ↗