New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court, Division X
Background Dustin K. Hunter is a district court judge in Division X of the New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court, based in Roswell. He handles a mix of criminal, civil, child support, driver’s license restoration, and some domestic violence cases.
Education He earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.
Prior Experience Prior to his appointment, Hunter practiced law in Roswell as a partner at Kraft & Hunter, LLP, focusing on civil and corporate matters.
Appointment & Current Role A registered Republican, he was appointed to the bench on May 27, 2016, by then-Governor Susana Martinez.
In 2024–2025, he presided over a lawsuit brought by the New Mexico School Superintendents Association and dozens of school districts challenging the Public Education Department’s “180-day rule” that mandated a minimum number of instructional days. He issued a temporary restraining order and later struck down the rule as inconsistent with legislative intent.
Election Status He has been retained in subsequent elections. His current term expires on December 31, 2026.
Sources / Links:
- Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Dustin_Hunter
- Fifth Judicial District Court Judges: https://fifthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/district-judges/
- NM JPEC 2020 Evaluation: https://nmjpec.org/judge-evaluation?election_id=435&year=2020
- Santa Fe New Mexican / KOAT (180-day rule): Multiple articles on the PED ruling (2024–2025)
- Governor’s 2016 Appointment: Contemporary news reports




















































