Manuel I. Arrieta at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Manuel I. Arrieta
District Court Judge · Third Judicial District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Water Law Judge (2012–present)
- State district judge for the Third Judicial District Court of New Mexico, serving Division I in Las Cruces since 2009, with extensive experience in civil litigation and community service
- A 2022 UNM account identified him as the district's water judge and New Mexico's participant in the National Judicial College climate-science leadership program
- Appointed district judge in 2009 and elected in 2010
- Presiding Judge, Adult Drug Court
- His pre-bench career combined insurance-defense and other civil work at southern New Mexico firms with later plaintiff personal-injury practice
Education
- University of Michigan Law School — J.D. (1984)
- It details upbringing in the Mesilla Valley, an associate degree in radiologic technology and a business-administration bachelor’s degree with an economics minor at New Mexico State University, completed by 1981, and a University of Michigan J.D. in 1984.
- Undergraduate degree — New Mexico State University
Additional information
- Currently listed in Division I. Served as chief judge before Conrad F. Perea succeeded him in April 2023.
- Designated Climate Science Judge (2021–present)
- Chief Judge (2019–present)
- The 2014 judicial evaluation records involvement with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Young Executives, the Las Cruces Homeless Legal Clinic, voter protection and the New Mexico High School Mock Trial Program.
- He clerked at the New Mexico Court of Appeals in 1984–1985.
- Earlier roles at Miller, Stratvert & Torgerson, P.A. and The Arrieta Law Firm, P.C
- The overview also identifies adult drug-court service, water-law assignments, and climate-science judicial education, along with local legal-aid, mock-trial, and youth-mentoring involvement.
- Manuel I. Arrieta serves in Division I of New Mexico’s Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces.
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
Third 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 ↗thirddistrict.nmcourts.gov
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View thirddistrict.nmcourts.gov ↗