New Mexico Second Judicial District Court, Division XXIV
Background Crystal E. Lees is a district court judge in Division XXIV of the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque. She presides over Family Court matters, including child custody, divorce, child support, domestic violence, and other domestic relations cases. She was born and raised in Albuquerque and is a graduate of Sandia High School.
Education & Admission She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico and her Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law. She was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 2012.
Prior Experience Prior to her appointment, Lees served as a Domestic Relations Hearing Officer in the Second Judicial District Court since 2018. In that role she presided over hearings on custody, divorce, support, and domestic violence matters. She also has experience in private practice and with the New Mexico Human Services Division’s Child Support Enforcement program.
Appointment & Current Role A Democrat and a 2022 EMERGE alum, she was appointed to the bench on January 16, 2025, by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Debra Ramirez. She assumed office on January 18, 2025.
Election Status She is running in the 2026 election cycle. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026, and the general election for November 3, 2026.
Sources / Links:
- Keep Judge Crystal Lees campaign site: https://keepjudgelees.com/
- Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Crystal_Lees
- Governor’s Appointment Announcement: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/01/16/governor-announces-judicial-appointment-of-crystal-lees/
- Second Judicial District Court Judges: https://seconddistrict.nmcourts.gov/about-this-district/judges/family-court-judges/
- Emerge New Mexico Alums: https://nm.emergeamerica.org/alum/in-elected-office/




















































