Rule 1-044.Judicial notice and determination of foreign law

Last verified June 26, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1-044 lists facts the New Mexico courts take judicial notice of and sets the procedure for raising and determining the law of a foreign country.

Full Text of Rule 1-044

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A. Judicial notice. The courts of New Mexico shall take judicial notice of the following facts:

(1) the true significance of all English words and phrases and of all legal expressions;

(2) whatever is established by law;

(3) public and private official acts of the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the United States, and the laws of the several states and territories of the United States, and the interpretation thereof by the highest courts of appellate jurisdiction of such states and territories;

(4) the seals of all the courts of this state, the United States and the courts of record of the various states of the United States and its territories;

(5) the accession to office, seals and the official signatures under seal of the officers of government in the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the United States and of the several states and territories thereof;

(6) the existing title, national flag and seal of every state or sovereign recognized by the executive power of the United States;

(7) the seals of notaries public;

(8) the laws of nature, the result of time and the geographic divisions and political history of the world. In all cases the court may resort for its aid to appropriate books or documents of reference. This rule is not intended to be exclusive and nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or restrict the courts from taking judicial notice under the New Mexico Rules of Evidence or existing practice.

B. Determination of foreign law. A party who intends to raise an issue concerning the law of a foreign country shall give notice in his pleadings or other reasonable written notice. The court, in determining foreign law, may consider any relevant material or source, including testimony, whether or not submitted by a party or admissible under the New Mexico Rules of Evidence. The court's determination shall be treated as a ruling on a question of law.

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Plain-English Summary

This rule covers two kinds of judicial knowledge. First, it directs the courts to take judicial notice of a list of facts—the meaning of English words and legal expressions, whatever is established by law, the official acts and laws of the United States and the states, court seals and officials’ signatures, the flags and seals of recognized sovereigns, notaries’ seals, and the laws of nature, time, geography, and world history—while remaining free to take notice under the Rules of Evidence or existing practice.

Second, a party who intends to raise an issue of foreign-country law must give notice in the pleadings or other reasonable written notice. In determining that law, the court may consider any relevant material or source, including testimony, whether or not a party submitted it or it would be admissible, and the court’s determination is treated as a ruling on a question of law.

Frequently Asked Questions

What facts do New Mexico courts take judicial notice of?

Among others: the meaning of words and legal expressions, whatever is established by law, the official acts and laws of the United States and the states, court seals and officials’ signatures, and the laws of nature, time, and geography.

How is foreign-country law raised and decided?

A party gives notice in the pleadings or other reasonable written notice; the court may consider any relevant source, including inadmissible material, and its determination is treated as a ruling on a question of law.

Source & verification. Rule text and Committee commentary reproduced verbatim from the New Mexico Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts (Rule 1-044 NMRA), published by the New Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of New Mexico. The plain-English summary is original and draws on the official annotations. Last verified June 26, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: judicial noticedetermination of foreign lawforeign lawnotice of facts