New Mexico has several levels of state courts. Regular courts are called district courts. Courts with the right to hear only certain kinds of cases (traffic citations, small claims, evictions) are called magistrate courts, or "Metro Court" in Albuquerque.

There are two levels of appeals from district court--the state court of appeals, and the state supreme court. In addition, district court can hear appeals from magistrate or metro court, as well as from certain administrative agency hearings.

New Mexico also has a federal district court, in Albuquerque. The kinds of cases the federal court can handle are very limited. Finally, several Native American pueblos have their own courts based on tribal law. These courts handle some kinds of civil cases, and lower-level criminal cases. The types of cases vary from pueblo to pueblo.