N.M. Stat. § 73-9-16
[Acquisition of property; suits; judicial notice and
presumption of organization; certified copies as evidence.]
The said board is hereby authorized and empowered to take conveyances or
contracts for all property or rights acquired by it under the provisions of this act in the
name of such irrigation district to and for the purposes herein expressed, and to institute
and maintain any and all actions, proceedings and suits at law or in equity, necessary or
proper in order to fully carry out the provisions of this act, or to enforce, maintain,
protect or preserve any or all rights, privileges and immunities created by this act or
acquired in pursuance thereof. And in all courts, actions, suits or proceedings the said
board may sue, appear and defend in person or by attorneys and in the name of such
irrigation district. Judicial notice shall be taken in all actions, suits and proceedings in
any court of this state of the organization and existence of any irrigation district in this
state now or hereafter organized, from and after the filing for record in the office of the
county clerk of the certified copy of the order of the board of county commissioners
mentioned in Section 6 [73-9-6 NMSA 1978] of this act; and a certified copy of said
order shall be prima facie evidence in all actions, suits and proceedings in any court in
this state of the regularity and legal sufficiency of all acts, matters and proceedings
therein recited and set forth; and any such irrigation district, in regard to which any such
order has been heretofore or may hereafter be entered, and such certified copy thereof
so filed for record, and which has exercised or shall exercise rights and powers of such
district, and shall have had or shall have in office a board of directors exercising the
duties of their office and the legality or regularity of the formation or organization
whereof shall not have been questioned by proceedings in quo warranto instituted in the
district court of the county in which such district or the greater portion thereof is situated
within one year from the date of such filing, shall be conclusively deemed to be a legally
and regularly organized, established and existing irrigation district within the meaning of
this act, and its due and lawful formation and organization shall not thereafter be
questioned in any action, suit or proceeding whether brought under the provisions of
this act or otherwise.