Mercedes C. Murphy at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mercedes C. Murphy
Chief Judge · Seventh Judicial District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Appointed district judge September 2014
- The Division I judge for the 7th Judicial District Court of New Mexico, appointed in 2014 and the first woman to serve in that district’s judicial history
- Before becoming a judge, Murphy held the role of Deputy District Attorney for the 7th Judicial District Attorney’s Office from 2002 to 2014, primarily prosecuting cases in Sierra County.
- Notable as the first female judge in the Seventh Judicial District
- Her work includes ensuring fair and lawful administration of justice across the district’s diverse communities, and she continues to contribute to legal education through CLE faculty roles
Education
- Oklahoma City University — J.D. (2002)
- Political Science and Criminology — University of New Mexico
Additional information
- She was appointed by former Governor Susana Martinez in September 2014 and later re‐elected
- Prosecutor, 2002–2014.
- Also active in local legal initiatives, including the Sierra County Drug Court Team and the Sierra County DWI Planning Council
- Judge Murphy presides over cases in the 7th Judicial District Court of New Mexico, Division I, which covers Sierra, Catron, Torrance, and Socorro counties.
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
Seventh 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 ↗seventhdistrict.nmcourts.gov
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View seventhdistrict.nmcourts.gov ↗