--- title: "Marie Ward | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/marie-ward-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Marie Ward Second Judicial District Court ยท Chief Judge ## Profile - Court: Second Judicial District Court - State: New Mexico - Role: Chief Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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 โ€” 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 ## 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://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory) - [Official roster](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory) - [New Mexico Courts official judicial roster](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory) - [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) - [seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory/) - [nmjpec.org](https://nmjpec.org/judge-evaluation?election_id=421&year=2020) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/marie-ward-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/marie-ward-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "name": "Marie Ward | KnowJudges", "description": "Marie Ward, Second Judicial District Court. 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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.