Magistrate and Metropolitan judges can prepare to take the bench for the first time, or improve their skills at any time, with the Judicial Education Center's online training programs. Here is a suggested guide through the training portion of the JEC website. Of course, you can access this training in any order you prefer, and you can also leave and return to the site whenever you like.

The first thing you can do is bookmark this page so you can return to it easily the next time you decide to do some training. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer, (or click Favorites > Add to Favorites from the top menu). If you are using Netscape, move your cursor just left of the address box and click Bookmarks > Add Bookmark. This may vary, depending which version of Netscape you are using. For a FREE upgrade to the latest version of Netscape, click here. For a FREE upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer, click here.

Now for the actual training.

Benchbooks - Judicial Education Center benchbooks compile the statutes, rules and caselaw that govern the specific subject matter.

• Magistrate and Metropolitan Benchbook - Overview of laws and procedures for magistrate and metropolitan courts
  
• Domestic Violence Benchbook - Basic issues in domestic violence cases
  
• DWI Benchbook - Detailed guide on handling DWI cases
  
• Traffic Citations Handbook - Detailed guide for handling traffic citations, with interactive forms
  
• Evidence: Judicial Handbook - Brief overview of evidentiary principles and terms
  
• How-To Guide: Judicial Handbook - Scripts and checklists for common proceedings
  
• Ethics: Judicial Handbook - Guide to the Code of Judicial Conduct, organized by situations
  
• Jury Deliberations Guide - American Judicature Society’s guide for jurors in question and answer format
  
• Judge’s Deskbook on the Basic Philosophies and Methods of Science - Guide for judges prepared by the University of Nevada at Reno on handling attempts to introduce scientific evidence
  

Charts - Online charts are easy to find and use for quick answers about the steps involved in a case, how to sentence various levels of DWI offender, or whether to admit hearsay evidence when a domestic violence victim won’t cooperate.

• DWI Sentencing Calculator for Magistrates - Interactive chart finds the range of sentence for each level of DWI offense
  
• Magistrate Civil Case Flowchart - How a civil case proceeds from filing through judgment
  
• Magistrate DWI Case Flowchart - How a misdemeanor DWI case proceeds from arrest to sentencing
  
• DWI in New Mexico Flowchart - More detailed version of how a DWI case proceeds from arrest to sentencing, including administrative proceedings
  
• Magistrate Traffic Case Flowchart - How case proceeds from citation to sentencing
  
• Magistrate Misdemeanor Case Flowchart - How case proceeds from arrest to sentencing
  
• Magistrate Court Felony Case Flowchart - How a felony case proceeds from arrest through binding over or dismissal
  
• Hearsay Evidence in Domestic Violence Cases – Chart - Explains admissible hearsay evidence when the victim won’t cooperate
  
• Expert Testimony in Domestic Violence Cases – Chart - Explains the requirements for admission of expert testimony
  
• Probable Cause for a Search Warrant – Flowchart - Details what is required in an affidavit in order to issue a search warrant; compares the requirements of affidavits based on firsthand knowledge with those based on hearsay
  

• How to File a Civil Lawsuit in Magistrate Court
  Printable trifold for adaptation and public distribution by your court - DOC | WPD
  Plain format for easy reading - HTML | DOC | PDF
  
• How to Answer a Civil Lawsuit in Magistrate Court
  Printable trifold for adaptation and public distribution by your court - DOC | WPD
  Plain format for easy reading - HTML | DOC | PDF
  
• Appeal in Magistrate Court
  Printable trifold for adaptation and public distribution by your court - DOC | WPD
  Plain format for easy reading - HTML | DOC | PDF
  
• Collection of a Judgment, Debtor & Creditor, Magistrate Court
  Printable trifold for adaptation and public distribution by your court - DOC | WPD
  Plain format for easy reading - HTML | DOC | PDF
  
• Pretrial and Trial in Magistrate Court
  Printable trifold for adaptation and public distribution by your court - DOC | WPD
  Plain format for easy reading - HTML | DOC | PDF
  
• Tenant's Restitution (Eviction) Process
  Printable trifold for adaptation and public distribution by your court - DOC | WPD
  Plain format for easy reading - HTML | DOC | PDF
  
• Landlord's Restitution (Eviction) Process
  Printable trifold for adaptation and public distribution by your court - DOC | WPD
  Plain format for easy reading - HTML | DOC | PDF
  

Training and Tutorials

• Online Training Guide for Magistrate Judges - Introductory summary of JEC online resources for magistrates and metro judges
  
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Web Course - Four-part video program on implementing various kinds of ADR
  
• Domestic Violence Web Course - Eight-part video program on understanding and handling domestic violence cases
  
• Ethics for Judges - Question-and-answer based ethics training, including videos
  
• Hearsay Evidence - Question-and-answer based training on understanding hearsay rule and exceptions
  
• Magistrate Sentencing Exercises - Question-and-answer based sentencing training
  
• Search Warrants - Question-and-answer based search warrant training
  
• Torts Tutorial - Question-and-answer based tort law training
  
• Landlord-Tenant Tutorial - Instructional readings with exercises
  
• Contract Law Tutorial - Instructional readings with exercises

Virtual Trials - JEC’s own creation, the virtual trial shows videos of problems that typically arise in trials, then calls upon the judge to rule on each one and receive feedback from the program.

• DWI Virtual Trial - Basic DWI issues, from trial through sentencing
  
• Domestic Violence Virtual Trial - Criminal and civil domestic violence proceedings
  
• DWI Virtual Trial – Phase II - More complex DWI issues, focusing on problematic areas - Coming in 2004

Other Resources

• CJE Requirements – Magistrate - Defines initial and annual educational requirements for each judge
  
• CJE Requirements – Magistrate Pro Tempore - Defines initial and annual educational requirements for each judge
  
• Code of Judicial Conduct - Online access to rules governing judges’ conduct
  
• Advisory Opinions on the Code of Judicial Conduct - Indexed ethics opinions on issues for which judges have sought advice
  
• New Mexico Judicial Branch Personnel Rules - Personnel rules issued under the superintending authority of the New Mexico Supreme Court, which cover classification, compensation, performance evaluation, equal opportunity issues, recruitment, applications and interviews, layoffs, resignations, record retention, standards for employee conduct, employee discipline, leave, outside employment, political activities, and grievance procedures, among other things.
  
• New Mexico Statutes and Rules - Access to the New Mexico Constitution, statutes and court rules
  
• New Mexico Administrative Code - Official site for all state agency rules and regulations
  

Other Legal Resources

• New Mexico Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Opinions - Current and past New Mexico appellate opinions
  
• New Mexico Criminal Case Summaries - Brief summaries of recently decided opinions by the New Mexico Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. These summaries will inform you of opinions before they are published in the State Bar Bulletin.
  
• New Mexico Civil Case Summaries - Brief summaries of recently decided opinions by the New Mexico Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. These summaries will inform you of opinions before they are published in the State Bar Bulletin.
  
• DUI Online Resource Center - Comprehensive source of legal and other resources for judges on impaired driving cases
  
• Glossary of Legal Terms - Definitions of commonly used legal words and phrases
  

New Mexico Courts

• New Mexico Court System Structure - Chart illustrating the different courts in New Mexico
  
• About the Courts - Brief summary of each level of court in New Mexico, including jurisdiction, types of cases handled, and number of judges
  
• Directory of New Mexico Judges - Names and contact information for judges in all New Mexico courts, including Magistrate and Metropolitan judges
  

Judicial Education Center Procedures, Resources, and Staff

• Travel Planning - Claim procedures, forms and reports, and reimbursement policies and procedures
  
• JEC Contacts - Includes mailing address, staff listing and contact information, and directions to the JEC office
  
• JEC Calendar of Events - Calendar of conferences, trainings, and meetings for New Mexico judges, as well as agendas and registration forms
  
• JEC Lending Library - Videos and publications that may be borrowed from JEC on many substantive areas of the law, court management, court clerks, risk management, media relations, substance abuse, and more