Where the firm practices
The office is in Albuquerque. The practice runs from Sandoval County down the Rio Grande corridor through Valencia and Socorro Counties to Sierra County and Truth or Consequences.
Which court will handle your case
New Mexico’s court structure confuses almost everyone, and it matters: it determines your deadlines, your judge, and how the case will proceed.
Municipal and magistrate courts handle misdemeanors and traffic. Bernalillo County has a Metropolitan Court that fills that role for Albuquerque. District courts handle felonies and all family matters.
Bring your citation, summons, or notice to the consultation and you will know within minutes exactly where you stand.
The Thirteenth Judicial District
Valencia, Sandoval, and Cibola Counties make up the Thirteenth Judicial District — the office where Chris Green served as a prosecutor. Cases in Belen, Los Lunas, Rio Rancho, and Bernalillo are handled by an attorney who worked inside that system.
The Seventh Judicial District
Further south, Socorro and Sierra Counties fall under the Seventh Judicial District, which also covers Catron and Torrance Counties. Its district courts sit in Socorro and in Truth or Consequences.
This is a different court system from the one serving Albuquerque and Valencia County, with its own judges, its own district attorney’s office, and its own way of moving a docket. If your case arose on the stretch of I-25 between Belen and Elephant Butte, this is almost certainly where it is headed.
Communities served
Albuquerque
The office is on Luna Circle NW, minutes from the Downtown courthouses where Bernalillo County…Belen & Valencia County
Chris Green prosecuted cases for the Thirteenth Judicial District Attorney's Office — the…Los Lunas
Los Lunas cases are heard in the Valencia County courts in Belen, and they are handled by an…Rio Rancho & Sandoval County
Sandoval County is also part of the Thirteenth Judicial District — the district where Chris…Socorro County
Socorro sits an hour south of Belen on I-25, and it is a different court…Sierra County & T or C
Sierra County cases are heard in Truth or Consequences, in the same Seventh…Albuquerque criminal defense and family law attorney
The office is on Luna Circle NW, minutes from the Downtown courthouses where Bernalillo County cases are heard.
Where your case may be heard
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Lomas handles misdemeanors, DWI, traffic, and the first appearances in felony cases. Most Albuquerque criminal cases begin here.
The Second Judicial District Court handles felony trials, divorce, custody, and guardianship matters for Bernalillo County. A felony that starts in Metro Court is bound over to this court.
Knowing which building, which division, and which judge your case sits in front of is not trivia — it changes how a case is prepared.
Neighborhoods served
The firm takes cases from across the metro area, from Downtown and EDo to the far Westside.
- Downtown, EDo, and Huning Highland
- Old Town, Sawmill, and Wells Park
- Barelas and the South Broadway area
- Nob Hill and the University area
- North Valley and Los Ranchos
- South Valley and Atrisco
- Northeast Heights and Uptown
- Westside, Ventana Ranch, and Paradise Hills
Getting to the office
925 Luna Circle NW sits just west of Downtown near Old Town, a short drive from both courthouses and easy to reach from I-25 and I-40.
Evening and weekend appointments are available for people who cannot leave work during the day, and jail visits are arranged as needed.
Questions about Albuquerque
Do you handle cases in Metropolitan Court?
Yes, regularly — DWI, misdemeanor, and domestic violence matters, along with the first stages of felony cases before they move to district court.
Can we meet after work?
Yes. Regular hours are 9 to 6 weekdays, with after-hours appointments by arrangement.
Belen and Valencia County attorney
Chris Green prosecuted cases for the Thirteenth Judicial District Attorney's Office — the office that charges cases in Valencia County. He now defends them.
Why that background matters here
The Thirteenth Judicial District covers Valencia, Sandoval, and Cibola Counties. Chris worked inside it, handling cases from DWI through drug charges.
That means familiarity with how this specific office evaluates a file, what its charging practices look like, and which arguments actually land in this district rather than in general.
Valencia County courts
The Thirteenth Judicial District Court in Belen handles felony cases, divorce, custody, and guardianship matters for Valencia County.
The Valencia County Magistrate Court handles misdemeanors, DWI, and preliminary matters in felony cases.
Cases in either court are handled from the Albuquerque office, which is a straight run down I-25.
Communities served
Valencia County and the Rio Grande corridor south of Albuquerque.
- Belen
- Los Lunas
- Bosque Farms
- Peralta
- Rio Communities
- Tomé and Adelino
- Meadow Lake
- Jarales
Questions about Belen and Valencia County
Is it a conflict that you used to prosecute in this district?
No. Former prosecutors defend cases in the districts where they served as a matter of routine. Where a specific prior case creates a conflict, it is identified and addressed at the outset.
Do I have to come to Albuquerque for the consultation?
The consultation can be handled by phone or video if travel is difficult. Court appearances in Belen are made in person.
Los Lunas attorney
Los Lunas cases are heard in the Valencia County courts in Belen, and they are handled by an attorney who used to prosecute in that district.
Where a Los Lunas case is heard
Misdemeanors, DWI, and traffic matters go to the Valencia County Magistrate Court. Felonies, divorce, and custody go to the Thirteenth Judicial District Court in Belen.
Cases arising on I-25 through Los Lunas — a heavily patrolled stretch — make up a large share of the DWI and drug charges in this county.
Commuters and the I-25 corridor
Many Los Lunas residents work in Albuquerque, which creates a specific practical problem: a case in one county, a job in another, and conditions of release that assume you can be in two places.
Those conditions can be structured around a commute if someone raises it at the right hearing.
Family cases in Valencia County
Divorce, custody, and kinship guardianship matters for Los Lunas families are filed in Belen. Settlement facilitation is used here as it is in Bernalillo County, and preparation for it decides most outcomes.
Questions about Los Lunas
I was stopped on I-25 near Los Lunas. Which court is that?
Almost certainly Valencia County. The exact court depends on the level of the charge and which agency made the stop — state police, county, or village.
Do you charge more to appear in Valencia County?
Travel is not billed separately for Valencia County matters. The fee is set at the consultation and put in writing.
Rio Rancho and Sandoval County attorney
Sandoval County is also part of the Thirteenth Judicial District — the district where Chris Green served as a prosecutor.
Sandoval County courts
The Thirteenth Judicial District Court in Bernalillo handles felony, divorce, custody, and guardianship matters for Sandoval County.
The Sandoval County Magistrate Court and the Rio Rancho Municipal Court handle misdemeanors, DWI, and municipal charges depending on which agency filed.
A common confusion
Rio Rancho sits in Sandoval County, not Bernalillo, even though it functions as part of the Albuquerque metro area. Cases are filed and heard accordingly.
The town of Bernalillo is the Sandoval County seat and is a different place from Bernalillo County. This distinction frequently confuses people, particularly when reviewing court notices.
Communities served
Rio Rancho and the surrounding Sandoval County communities.
- Rio Rancho
- Corrales
- Bernalillo
- Placitas
- Algodones
- Cuba and the Jemez corridor
Questions about Rio Rancho and Sandoval County
My ticket says Sandoval County but I live in Albuquerque. Where do I go?
Where the offense occurred determines the court, not where you live. Bring the citation and the answer takes thirty seconds.
Do you handle Rio Rancho municipal charges?
Yes. Municipal court cases are smaller in scale but still create records, and they are worth handling properly.
Talk about a Rio Rancho and Sandoval County case Back to top
Socorro County attorney
Socorro sits an hour south of Belen on I-25, and it is a different court system from the one handling Albuquerque and Valencia County cases.
Socorro County courts
The Seventh Judicial District Court on Church Street in Socorro handles felony cases, divorce, custody, and guardianship matters for the county.
The Socorro County Magistrate Court handles misdemeanors, DWI, and the first stages of felony cases. City charges are heard in the Socorro Municipal Court. Which of the three you are in depends on the level of the charge and which agency filed it — state police, county sheriff, or city police.
The I-25 corridor
A long, heavily patrolled stretch of interstate runs the length of this county, and a large share of its DWI and drug cases begin as traffic stops on it. Those cases turn on whether the stop was lawful and how long the driver was held before anything was found.
Socorro is also a university town, and charges involving students carry consequences for enrollment and financial aid alongside the criminal exposure.
Communities served
Socorro County and the surrounding Rio Grande valley.
- Socorro
- Magdalena
- San Antonio
- Lemitar
- Polvadera
- Escondida
- Veguita
- Alamo
Questions about Socorro County
Do you travel to Socorro for hearings?
Yes. Socorro is a straight run down I-25 from the Albuquerque office. Travel is not billed separately for Socorro County matters, and the fee is set at the consultation and put in writing.
I was stopped on I-25 near Socorro but I live in Albuquerque. Which court is my case in?
A stop near Socorro means a Socorro County case, no matter where you live — and that puts it in the Seventh Judicial District rather than in any Albuquerque courtroom. The citation will name the court on its face; bring it along and it can be confirmed at the consultation.
Sierra County and Truth or Consequences attorney
Sierra County cases are heard in Truth or Consequences, in the same Seventh Judicial District that covers Socorro.
Sierra County courts
The Seventh Judicial District Court on North Date Street in Truth or Consequences handles felony cases, divorce, custody, and guardianship matters for Sierra County.
The Sierra County Magistrate Court and the Truth or Consequences Municipal Court handle misdemeanors, DWI, and municipal charges, again depending on the level of the charge and the agency that filed it.
Distance is the practical problem
Truth or Consequences is a long drive from Albuquerque, and that changes what representation has to look like. Consultations are handled by phone or video, documents are exchanged electronically, and you are not asked to make the trip north for meetings that do not require it.
Court appearances are made in person. What you should not do is take a plea at a first appearance simply because returning for a second one is inconvenient — that convenience is frequently the most expensive decision in the whole case.
Communities served
Sierra County, from Elephant Butte down through the Rio Grande valley.
- Truth or Consequences
- Elephant Butte
- Williamsburg
- Caballo
- Arrey and Derry
- Hillsboro
- Kingston
- Winston and Chloride
Questions about Sierra County
Is it worth hiring an Albuquerque attorney for a case in Truth or Consequences?
It depends on the case. For a serious charge, the question to ask any attorney is how they will handle the distance — not whether their office is nearby. Raise it at the consultation and get a straight answer before you hire anyone.
Can any of my hearings be handled remotely?
Some proceedings in New Mexico can be conducted by video, and which ones vary by court and by judge. It is worth asking early, because it affects how many trips the case will require.
Bring your paperwork and your next court date, and you will leave knowing what you are facing.
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