--- title: "Matthew E. Chavez | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-e-chavez-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Matthew E. Chavez Second Judicial District Court · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Second Judicial District Court - State: New Mexico - Role: District Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Matthew Chavez joined the Second Judicial District Court by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in March 2025, filling the seat vacated by Judge Stan Whitaker - Became chief legal counsel to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in April 2023 - Served as a public defender and District Defender in the Second and Twelfth Judicial Districts - Judge Chavez’s philosophy is grounded in the rule of law, shaped by his experience as both a public defender and chief legal counsel ### Education - University of New Mexico School of Law — J.D. ### Additional information - He must run in the 2026 election to continue serving Bernalillo County. - The court scheduled his swearing-in for March 14, 2025; the governor specified March 15, 2025, as the appointment start. - Admitted to the bar in 2012. - Dedicated to ensuring that all individuals are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. - Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed him to succeed Stan Whitaker in Division II. - Chavez brings over a decade of public service, specializing in criminal law, with extensive experience in both trial and administrative roles - Earlier, he served as a public defender in the Second and Twelfth Judicial Districts, managing complex caseloads, supervising teams, and representing hundreds of clients in over 70 jury trials. - His work included agency legal advice, litigation, contracts, policy and legislative issues. - Chavez’s appointment strengthens the court’s capacity to serve the community with experienced and knowledgeable judicial leadership ## 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/criminal-court-judges/) - [seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory/) - [www.governor.state.nm.us](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/newsroom/release-governor-announces-two-judicial-appointments-100001499) - [seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov](https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/news/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-e-chavez-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-e-chavez-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "name": "Matthew E. Chavez | KnowJudges", "description": "Matthew E. Chavez, Second Judicial District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-e-chavez-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-e-chavez-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm#judge", "name": "Matthew E. Chavez", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-e-chavez-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm", "jobTitle": "District Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Second Judicial District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/judges-directory" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of New Mexico School of Law" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New Mexico", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-mexico" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matthew E. Chavez", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-e-chavez-district-court-judge-second-judicial-district-court-nm" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.