Judge Jill Martinez

Manuel Arrieta

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, Division VIII

Background
Jill M. Martinez is a judge in Division VIII of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was elected to the bench in 2014 and handles a range of criminal and civil matters. She serves on the DWI Bench Book Committee and instructs on the Fourth Amendment for the Judicial Education Committee.

Education
She earned an undergraduate degree from Troy State University in 1999 and a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2004.

Prior Experience
Before taking the bench, Martinez worked in private practice and as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office.

Appointment & Current Role
A Democrat, she won the 2014 Democratic primary and general election.

In 2019, she dismissed 22 felony animal cruelty charges for lack of probable cause against a man accused of operating a puppy mill in southwest Albuquerque. She cited that the charges did not meet the statutory requirements for felonies, which generally require prior convictions. The decision drew attention and criticism from animal welfare advocates and law enforcement.

Election Status
She has been retained in subsequent nonpartisan retention elections, including in 2018 and in 2022. Her current term expires on December 31, 2026.

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