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NMRA 21-205

Not legal advice. Verify against official sources before relying on this text in any legal matter.

Rule 21-205 Competence, diligence, and cooperation.

← Previous Rule 21-204: External influences on judicial conduct. Next → Rule 21-206: Ensuring the right to be heard.

Rule Text

A. A judge shall perform judicial and administrative duties competently and diligently.

B. A judge shall cooperate with other judges and court officials in the administration of court business.

Amendment history: Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 11-8300-045, effective January 1, 2012. Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 11-8300-045, effective January 1, 2012.

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

Judges need to do their jobs well and keep up with their workload. This means handling cases and paperwork in a timely way, staying on top of deadlines, and making sure court business doesn't get delayed or ignored. A judge who lets cases pile up or fails to keep up with basic duties isn't meeting this standard.

Judges also have to work well with others in the court system. This includes other judges, clerks, and court staff. Courts run smoothly when everyone works together, so a judge can't act like a lone operator who ignores or clashes with the people they need to work with to get things done.

For people involved in a case, this rule matters because it means judges are expected to move cases along without unnecessary delay and to run their courtrooms in an organized, professional way. If a judge is cooperating and staying on top of their duties, cases are more likely to move forward fairly and on time.

Committee Notes

Committee commentary. —

[1] Competence in the performance of judicial duties requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary to perform a judge’s responsibilities of judicial office. Judges should make diligent effort to maintain knowledge of current developments in the law through ongoing education.

[2] A judge should seek the necessary docket time, court staff, expertise, and resources to discharge all adjudicative and administrative responsibilities.

[3] Prompt disposition of the court’s business requires a judge to devote adequate time to judicial duties, to be punctual in attending court and expeditious in determining matters under submission, and to take reasonable measures to ensure that court officials, litigants, and their lawyers cooperate with the judge to that end. The business of the court is a full-time demand. A judge’s extrajudicial activities should not unreasonably interfere with the administration of justice and the timely performance of judicial duties.

[4] In disposing of matters promptly and efficiently, a judge must demonstrate due regard for the rights of parties to be heard and to have issues resolved without unnecessary cost or delay. A judge should monitor or supervise cases in ways that reduce or eliminate dilatory practices, avoidable delays, and unnecessary costs.

← Previous Rule 21-204: External influences on judicial conduct. Next → Rule 21-206: Ensuring the right to be heard.