Marie Ward at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Marie Ward
Chief Judge · Second Judicial District Court
Biography
Professional career
- In 2021, she was elected Chief Judge of the 2nd Judicial District, succeeding Hon
- Appointed a district judge in March 2014 and elected in November 2014
- Before joining the bench, Ward served as a family court hearing officer and trial court staff attorney with the 2nd Judicial District Court from 2004.
Education
- a J.D. magna cum laude from the UNM School of Law in 1998.
- Undergraduate degree — University of New Mexico
- She was also a private practice attorney and Special Assistant Attorney General She obtained a B.A. in Criminology from the University of New Mexico
Additional information
- The 2020 judicial evaluation records prior leadership of Children's Court and the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court.
- She was retained in a 2020 retention election with 70.4% of the vote.
- Appointed by former Governor Susana Martinez in March 2014, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Hon.
- Reed Sheppard.
- The current directory lists her as Chief Judge in Division XIV, in the civil division.
- Leading initiatives in juvenile justice and family court reform
- Worked in private practice, as a special assistant attorney general handling child support, and as a trial-court staff attorney and family-court hearing officer for the Second Judicial District.
- She is admitted to practice in New Mexico, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
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
Second 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 ↗seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov ↗