New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Court, Division I
Background Benjamin S. Cross is a district court judge in Division I of the New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Court, based in Clovis, Curry County. He handles general jurisdiction cases including criminal, civil, family, and domestic matters. He is a Clovis native.
Education He graduated from Clovis High School in 1998. He earned a B.B.A. in Finance from Texas Tech University in 2002 and a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2006.
Prior Experience Before becoming a judge, Cross served as a prosecutor in the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2011. He then worked as a court attorney/staff attorney for the Ninth Judicial District Court from 2011 to 2021, where he oversaw mediation programs.
Appointment & Current Role A registered Republican, he was appointed to the bench on September 24, 2021, by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to fill a vacancy.
Election Status He was elected unopposed in the November 2022 general election. His current term expires on December 31, 2026.
Sources / Links:
- Ninth Judicial District Court Judges: https://ninthdistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/district-court-judges/
- Governor’s Appointment Announcement: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/09/24/gov-appoints-ninth-judicial-district-judge/
- Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Benjamin_S._Cross_(New_Mexico_Ninth_Judicial_District_Court_Division_1,_New_Mexico,_candidate_2022)
- NM Courts Judges Directory and Dockets




















































