Los Alamos Municipal Court To Remain Open, Announces Some Changes In Services

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Los Alamos Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Allen

MUNICIPAL COURT NEWS

With the latest reports of closures within the State of New Mexico, Los Alamos Municipal Court is staying open unless directed differently by the New Mexico Supreme Court.  However, there are options for individuals who do not want to appear in public.

Teen Court

Teen Court is currently postponed while the New Mexico Schools are closed.  The Court will notify all those currently scheduled for Teen Court to set a new date.  Those who are completing Teen Court sanctions will get an extension to comply in connection with the school closure calendar.  For additional questions about Teen Court, individuals are asked to email Catherine.taylor@lacnm.us.  

Court Appearances

All individuals have a right to appear in court and those hearings must be held within certain time limits.  Municipal Court rules allows the use of audio-visual appearance of any person to appear in court. The Court utilizes Zoom for these types of hearings and this kind of hearing can typically be provided with use of an app over a phone or on a computer.  Prior to an audio-visual appearance, a written request must be completed. A sample request (Form 9-104(a)) can be found here: https://www.losalamosnm.us/government/courts/municipal_court.  This form can be emailed to Juanita.mcniel@lacnm.us.

Judge Allen will continue to conduct all hearings, including audio-visual proceedings in a place open to the public, and the public will be able to simultaneously see and hear the proceeding contemporaneously with the judge. 

Payments and Questions

For making payments or other questions, individuals are asked to call the municipal court office at 505-662-8025.  Unless necessary, in-person visits are discouraged in the interest of keeping public facilities such as the Courthouse as germ-free as possible. Additional information about community service, teen court, accessing Zoom and other forms, including probation and pre-trial services can be found on the Court website at   https://www.losalamosnm.us/government/courts/municipal_court.

Probation / Pre-trial Release

Those individuals on probation and pre-trial release are asked to contact monica.schwiner@lacnm.us regarding the process for compliance check-ins. There will be no accommodations to check-ins without prior approval and all services will remain intact.