Rule 10-161. Designation of children's court judge.

A. Assignment of cases. The judge before whom the case is to be tried shall be designated at the time the petition is filed under local district court rule. B. Procedure for replacing a children’s court judge who has been excused or recused. In the event the designated children’s court judge has been excused or recused, the clerk of the district court shall assign a district judge of the same judicial district at random, in the same fashion as cases are originally assigned or under local district court rule. If all district court judges in the district have been excused or recused, the clerk of the district court shall immediately notify the chief justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico, who shall designate a judge, justice, or judge pro tempore to hear all further proceedings. C. Automatic recusal. If a proceeding is filed in any county of a judicial district in which a judge or employee of the district is a party, a judge from another district shall be designated in accordance with procedures ordered by the chief justice. D. Excusal of judge appointed by chief judge. Any judge designated by the chief justice may not be excused except under Article VI, Section 18 of the New Mexico Constitution.