New Mexico Second Judicial District Court, Division IV
Background Beatrice J. Brickhouse serves as a judge in the Second Judicial District Court of New Mexico in Bernalillo County, which covers Albuquerque and surrounding areas. She has handled a mix of civil, criminal, and family law cases during her tenure. She currently serves in the civil division, presiding over cases involving contracts, administrative appeals, and other civil matters.
Prior Experience Prior to her appointment, Brickhouse had experience in juvenile, criminal, and personal injury law.
Appointment & Current Role A Democrat and graduate of the EMERGE New Mexico program in 2010, she was appointed to the bench in January 2009 by then-Governor Bill Richardson to fill a vacancy in the court’s civil division.
Her rulings have been involved in several cases that faced appeals or scrutiny:
- In Serna v. Webster (2017), she was named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit alleging violations related to state court proceedings.
- In Gallegos v. CitiMortgage, Inc. (2019), she granted summary judgment in favor of the homeowners in a foreclosure dispute; the decision was later part of federal litigation.
- In McGrath v. City of Albuquerque (2014), an earlier state court ruling of hers was referenced in a federal employment discrimination suit.
- An appeal from a decision in her court appeared in Air-Vent, Inc. v. Powermax Electric Co. (2025).
- Her orders have also appeared in petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court and in other civil matters such as Norbertine Community of New Mexico v. Owens (2023) and Snyder v. University of New Mexico (2025).
Election Status She has been retained by voters in subsequent elections and continues to serve.
