Sixteen judges preside in Metropolitan Court.

Metro Court can conduct jury trials and hear civil cases cases where the amount in controversy is under $10,000. Metro Courts also hear cases involving minor crimes (misdemeanors) and they conduct preliminary hearings in serious criminal cases (felonies). They may issue search warrants and writs for collection of judgments. Metro Courts also hear violations of city laws and they are are courts of record for domestic violence and DWI cases.

Cases appealed from Metro Court go to District Court. All criminal appeals, except domestic violence and DWI cases, are heard as new trials. These are called trials de novo.  Civil appeals are on the record.

There is only one Metro Court in New Mexico and that is in Bernalillo County. For a county to have a Metro Court it must have a population over 200,000.

Metro Court Justices must be attorneys and they are elected officials, although the governor appoints attorneys to fill vacancies between elections.