Rule 12-102 Appeals; where taken.

This rule explains which court handles your appeal, either the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals. Most appeals go to the Court of Appeals, but a few special types of cases must go straight to the Supreme Court instead.

Your case goes to the Supreme Court if it involves a death sentence or a life prison sentence from a district court. It also goes there if you're appealing a decision from the Public Regulation Commission, or if a court granted someone a writ of habeas corpus (a legal tool used to challenge unlawful imprisonment). The Supreme Court also hears any other case where the New Mexico Constitution, or a Supreme Court order or rule, specifically says that court must handle it.

If your case doesn't fall into one of these categories, it goes to the Court of Appeals. This covers the large majority of appeals filed in New Mexico. Knowing which court to file with matters a lot, since filing in the wrong court can cause delays or other problems with your case.