NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-1 Short title
10-12B-1. Short title
Chapter 10, Article 12B NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Judicial Retirement Act".
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 1; 2011, ch. 178, § 7.
Judicial Retirement
NMSA 1978 ch. 10, art. 12B
in effectNMSA 1978, § 10-12B-2 Definitions
10-12B-2. Definitions
As used in the Judicial Retirement Act:
A. "association" means the public employees retirement association provided for in the Public Employees Retirement Act [Chapter 10, Article 11 NMSA 1978];
B. "board" means the retirement board provided for in the Public Employees Retirement Act;
C. "dependent child" means a natural or adopted child who is physically or mentally incapable of financial self-support, regardless of age;
D. "educational retirement system" means the retirement system provided for in the Educational Retirement Act [Chapter 22, Article 11 NMSA 1978];
E. "effective date of retirement" means the first day of the month following the month in which the member met all requirements for retirement;
F. "final average salary" means the amount that is one-sixtieth of the greatest aggregate amount of salary paid a member for sixty consecutive, but not necessarily continuous, months of service credit;
G. "former member" means a person no longer in office who was previously covered pursuant to the provisions of Sections 10-12-1 through 10-12-18 NMSA 1978, but who has not retired pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act and who has received a refund of member contributions pursuant to the provisions of Sections 10-12B-1 through 10-12B-19 NMSA 1978;
H. "fund" means the judicial retirement fund;
I. "judge" means a judge of the metropolitan court, district court or court of appeals of New Mexico;
J. "justice" means a justice of the supreme court of New Mexico;
K. "member" means any judge or justice who is in office and covered pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act, or any person no longer in office who was previously a judge or justice covered pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act, who has not retired and who has not received a refund of member contributions from the fund;
L. "member contributions" means the amounts deducted from the salary of a member and credited to the member's individual account, together with interest, if any, credited thereto;
M. "minor child" means a natural or adopted child who has not reached his eighteenth birthday and who has not been emancipated by marriage or otherwise;
N. "pension" means a series of monthly payments to a retired member or survivor beneficiary pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act;
O. "refund beneficiary" means a supplemental needs trust or a natural person designated by the member, in writing in the form prescribed by the association, as the trust or person that would be refunded the member's accumulated member contributions payable if the member dies and no survivor pension is payable, or that would receive the difference between pension paid and accumulated member contributions if the retired member dies before receiving in pension payments the amount of the accumulated member contributions;
P. "retire" means to:
(1) terminate employment with all employers covered by any state system or the educational retirement system; and
(2) receive a pension from one state system or the educational retirement system;
Q. "retired member" means a person who has met all requirements for retirement and who is receiving a pension from the fund;
R. "salary" means the base salary or wages paid a member, including longevity pay, for personal services rendered; provided that salary does not include overtime pay; allowances for housing, clothing, equipment or travel; payments for unused sick leave, unless the unused sick leave payment is made through continuation of the member on the regular payroll for the period represented by that payment; and any other form of remuneration not specifically designated by law as included in salary pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act;
S. "state system" means the retirement programs provided pursuant to the provisions of the Public Employees Retirement Act [Chapter 10, Article 11 NMSA 1978], the Magistrate Retirement Act [Chapter 10, Article 12C NMSA 1978] and the Judicial Retirement Act;
T. "supplemental needs trust" means a valid third-party irrevocable trust that is authorized by the federal Social Security Act, as amended, for the sole benefit and the lifetime of a trust beneficiary who is disabled and is created for the purpose of providing, accounting for or receiving supplemental assets that do not supplant, impair or diminish any benefits or assistance of any federal, state or other government entity for which the beneficiary would otherwise be eligible;
U. "surviving spouse" means the spouse to whom the member was married at the time of the member's death;
V. "survivor beneficiary" means a supplemental needs trust or a natural person that receives a pension or that has been designated to be paid a pension as a result of the death of a member or retired member; and
W. "years of service" means a period of time beginning on the date a person commences to hold office as a judge or justice because of appointment or election and ending on the date a person ceases to hold office as a judge or justice because of expiration of the judge's or justice's term, voluntary resignation, death or disability and shall include any fractions of years of service.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 2; 2003, ch. 81, § 1; 2014, ch. 35, § 2; 2023, ch. 156, § 5.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-3 Judicial retirement fund established; administration of fund; accounting funds
10-12B-3. Judicial retirement fund established; administration of fund; accounting funds
A. There is established in the state treasury the "judicial retirement fund". The fund is comprised of money received from docket and jury fees of metropolitan courts, district courts, the court of appeals and the supreme court, employer and employee contributions and any investment earnings on fees and contributions. The board is the trustee of the fund and shall administer and invest the fund. Investment of the fund shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Public Employees Retirement Act [Chapter 10, Article 11 NMSA 1978]. The provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act shall be administered by the board. The board is authorized to promulgate rules. Expenses related to the investment of the fund and administration of the Judicial Retirement Act shall be paid from the fund.
B. For purposes of this section, the accounting funds shall be known as the "member contribution fund", "employer's accumulation fund", "retirement reserve fund" and "income fund". The maintenance of separate accounting funds shall not require the actual segregation of the assets of the fund.
C. The accounting funds provided for in this section are trust funds and shall be used only for the purposes provided for in the Judicial Retirement Act.
D. The member contribution fund is the accounting fund in which shall be accumulated contributions of members and from which shall be made refunds and transfers of accumulated member contributions as provided in the Judicial Retirement Act. The member's court shall cause member contributions to be deducted from the salary of the member and shall remit the deducted member contributions to the association in accordance with procedures and schedules established by the association. The association may assess an interest charge and a penalty charge on any late remittance. Each member shall be deemed to consent and agree to the deductions made and provided for in this section. Contributions by members shall be credited to the members' individual accounts in the member contribution fund. A member's accumulated member contributions shall be transferred to the retirement reserve fund when a pension becomes payable.
E. The employer's accumulation fund is the accounting fund in which shall be accumulated the contributions paid by the state through the member's court. The state, through the member's court, shall remit its contributions to the association in accordance with procedures and schedules established by the association. The board may assess an interest charge and a penalty charge on any late remittance.
F. The retirement reserve fund is the accounting fund from which shall be paid all pensions to retired members and survivor beneficiaries and all residual refunds to refund beneficiaries of retired members and survivor beneficiaries.
G. Each year, following receipt of the report of the annual actuarial valuation, the excess, if any, of the reported actuarial present value of pensions being paid and likely to be paid to retired members and survivor beneficiaries and residual refunds likely to be paid to refund beneficiaries of retired members and survivor beneficiaries over the balance in the retirement reserve fund shall be transferred to the retirement reserve fund from the employer's accumulation fund.
H. The income fund is the accounting fund to which shall be credited all interest, dividends, rents and other income from investments of the fund, all gifts and bequests, all unclaimed member contributions and all other money the disposition of which is not specifically provided for in the Judicial Retirement Act. Expenses related to the administration of the Judicial Retirement Act shall be paid for from the income fund.
I. The association shall at least annually distribute all or a portion of the balance in the income fund to the member contribution fund, the retirement reserve fund and the employer's accumulation fund. Distribution rates shall be determined by the board and may vary for the respective accounting funds.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 3; 1995, ch. 115, § 6; 2003, ch. 81, § 2.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-4 Membership
10-12B-4. Membership
Effective July 1, 2014, every judge or justice while in office shall become a member and shall be subject to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act; provided, however, that a judge or justice who, prior to July 1, 2014, applied for and received an exemption from membership, shall not become a member until such exemption ends. A judge or justice who is retired under any state system or the educational retirement system shall:
A. pay the applicable member contributions, and the state, through the member's court, shall pay the applicable employer contributions as provided pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Act; and
B. not accrue service credit, and shall not be eligible to purchase service credit nor to retire pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Act.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 4; 2014, ch. 35, § 3.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-5 Service credit; reinstatement of forfeited service; prior service; military service
10-12B-5. Service credit; reinstatement of forfeited service; prior service; military service
A. Personal service rendered by a member shall be credited to the member's service credit account in accordance with board rules and regulations. Service shall be credited to the nearest month. In no case shall any member be credited with a year of service for less than twelve months of service in any calendar year or more than a month of service for all service in any calendar month or more than a year of service for all service in any calendar year.
B. Service credit shall be forfeited if a member leaves office and withdraws the member's accumulated member contributions. A member or former member who is a member of a state system or the educational retirement system who has forfeited service credit by withdrawal of member contributions may reinstate the forfeited service credit by repaying the amount withdrawn plus compound interest from the date of withdrawal to the date of repayment at a rate set by the board. Withdrawn member contributions may be repaid in increments of one year in accordance with procedures established by the board. Full payment of each one-year increment shall be made in a single lump-sum amount in accordance with procedures established by the board.
C. Service credit that a member would have earned if the member had not elected to be excluded from membership may be purchased if the member pays the purchase cost determined pursuant to the provisions of Subsection F of this section.
D. A member who during a term of office enters a uniformed service of the United States shall be given service credit for periods of service in the uniformed services subject to the following conditions:
(1) the member returns to office within ninety days following termination of the period of intervening service in the uniformed services or the affiliated employer certifies in writing to the association that the member is entitled to reemployment rights under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994;
(2) the member retains membership in the association during the period of service in the uniformed services;
(3) free service credit shall not be given for periods of intervening service in the uniformed services following voluntary reenlistment. Service credit for such periods shall only be given after the member pays the association the sum of the contributions that the person would have been required to contribute had the person remained continuously employed throughout the period of intervening service following voluntary reenlistment, which payment shall be made during the period beginning with the date of reemployment and whose duration is three times the period of the person's intervening service in the uniformed services following voluntary reenlistment, not to exceed five years;
(4) service credit shall not be given for periods of intervening service in the uniformed services that are used to obtain or increase a benefit from another state system or the retirement program provided under the Educational Retirement Act [Chapter 22, Article 11 NMSA 1978]; and
(5) the member must not have received a discharge or separation from uniformed service under other than honorable conditions.
Notwithstanding any provision of this plan to the contrary, contributions, benefits and service credit with respect to qualified military service will be provided in accordance with Section 4l4(u) [414(u)] of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
E. A member who entered uniformed service of the United States may purchase service credit for periods of active duty in the uniformed services, subject to the following conditions:
(1) the member pays the purchase cost determined pursuant to the provisions of Subsection F of this section;
(2) the member has the applicable minimum number of years of service credit accrued according to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act;
(3) the aggregate amount of service credit purchased pursuant to the provisions of this subsection does not exceed five years, reduced by any period of service credit acquired for military service under any other provision of the Judicial Retirement Act;
(4) service credit may not be purchased for periods of service in the uniformed services that are used to obtain or increase a benefit from another retirement program; and
(5) the member must not have received a discharge or separation from uniformed service under other than honorable conditions.
F. The purchase cost for each year of service credit purchased pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be the increase in the actuarial present value of the pension of the member under the Judicial Retirement Act as a consequence of the purchase, as determined by the association. Full payment shall be made in a single lump-sum amount in accordance with procedures established by the board. Except as provided in Subsection G of this section, seventy-five percent of the purchase cost shall be considered to be employer contributions and shall not be refunded to the member in the event of cessation of membership.
G. A member shall be refunded, after retirement and upon written request filed with the association, the portion of the purchase cost of service credit purchased pursuant to the provisions of this section that the association determines to have been unnecessary to provide the member with the maximum pension applicable to the member. The association shall not pay interest on the portion of the purchase cost refunded to the member.
H. At any time prior to retirement, a member may purchase service credit in monthly increments, subject to the following conditions:
(1) the member has the applicable minimum number of years of service credit acquired as a result of personal service rendered under the Judicial Retirement Act;
(2) the aggregate amount of service credit purchased pursuant to this subsection does not exceed one year;
(3) the member pays full actuarial present value of the amount of the increase in the member's pension as a consequence of the purchase, as determined by the association;
(4) the member pays the full cost of the purchase within sixty days of the date the member is informed of the amount of the payment; and
(5) the purchase of service credit under this subsection cannot be used to exceed the pension maximum.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 5; 1997, ch. 189, § 12; 2007, ch. 133, § 1; 2014, ch. 35, § 4.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-6 Refund of contributions
10-12B-6. Refund of contributions
A. If a member leaves office, the member may, with the written consent of the member's spouse, if any, withdraw the member's accumulated member contributions upon making written request in a form prescribed by the association. Upon written request of the member in the form prescribed by the association, a refund of member contributions may be made by a trustee-to-trustee transfer of the contributions from the member contribution fund directly to another qualified plan as allowed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Withdrawal of member contributions shall result in forfeiture of the service credit accrued for the period during which the contributions were made.
B. A member shall, upon commencement of membership, designate a refund beneficiary who shall receive the refund of the member contributions, plus interest, if the member dies and no survivor pension is payable. If the member is married at the time of designation, written spousal consent shall be required if the designated refund beneficiary is a person other than the spouse or a supplemental needs trust to which the spouse is a beneficiary. Marriage subsequent to the designation shall automatically revoke a previous designation, and the spouse shall become the refund beneficiary unless or until another designation is filed with the association. Divorce subsequent to the designation shall automatically revoke designation of the former spouse as refund beneficiary if no designation has been filed, and the refund shall be paid to the deceased member's estate unless the member filed a designation of refund beneficiary subsequent to the divorce. The refund shall be paid to the refund beneficiary named in the most recent designation of refund beneficiary on file with the association unless that beneficiary is deceased or otherwise terminated. If there is not a living or operating refund beneficiary named in the most recent designation of refund beneficiary on file with the association, the deceased member's accumulated member contributions shall be paid to the estate of the deceased member.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 6; 1995, ch. 115, § 7; 2023, ch. 156, § 6.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-7 Funds not subject to legal process; division of funds as community property; legal process to satisfy child support obligations
10-12B-7. Funds not subject to legal process; division of funds as community property; legal process to satisfy child support obligations
A. Except as provided in Subsections B and C of this section, none of the money, pensions or other benefits provided pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act shall be assignable either in law or in equity or be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process.
B. A court of competent jurisdiction, solely for the purposes of effecting a division of community property in a divorce or legal separation proceeding, may provide by appropriate order for a determination and division of a community interest in the pensions or other benefits provided for in the Judicial Retirement Act. The court shall fix the manner in which warrants are issued, may order direct payments to a person with a community interest in the pensions or other benefits, may require the election of a specific form of payment and designation of a specific survivor beneficiary or refund beneficiary and may restrain the refund of accumulated member contributions. Payments made pursuant to such orders shall only be made when member contributions are refunded or a pension is payable in accordance with the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act. The court shall not alter the manner in which the amount of pensions or other benefits are calculated by the association or cause any increase in the actuarial present value of the pensions or other benefits to be paid by the association.
C. A court of competent jurisdiction, solely for the purposes of enforcing current or delinquent child-support obligations, may provide by appropriate order for withholding amounts due in satisfaction of current or delinquent child-support obligations from the pensions or other benefits provided for in the Judicial Retirement Act and for payment of such amounts to third parties. The court shall not alter the manner in which the amount of pensions or other benefits are calculated by the association. The court shall not cause any increase in the actuarial present value of the pensions or other benefits to be paid from the fund. Payments made pursuant to such orders shall only be made when member contributions are refunded or when a pension is payable in accordance with the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act. In no case shall more money be paid out, either in a lump sum or in monthly pension payments, of the fund in enforcement of current or delinquent child-support obligations than would otherwise be payable at that time.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 7; 1995, ch. 115, § 8.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-8 Age and service credit requirements for normal retirement
10-12B-8. Age and service credit requirements for normal retirement
A. For an individual who initially became a member prior to July 1, 2005, the age and service credit requirements for retirement provided for in the Judicial Retirement Act are:
(1) age sixty-five years or older and five or more years of service credit; or
(2) age sixty years or older and fifteen or more years of service credit.
B. For an individual who initially became a member after June 30, 2005 but on or before June 30, 2014, the age and service credit requirements for retirement provided for in the Judicial Retirement Act are:
(1) age sixty-five years or older and five or more years of service credit; or
(2) age fifty-five years or older and sixteen or more years of service credit.
C. For an individual who initially became a member on or after July 1, 2014, the age and service requirements provided for in the Judicial Retirement Act are:
(1) age sixty-five years and eight or more years of service credit; or
(2) age sixty years and fifteen or more years of service credit.
D. Except for a member who is retired under any state system or the educational retirement system, if a member leaves office for any reason, other than removal pursuant to Article 6, Section 32 of the constitution of New Mexico, before meeting the age and service credit requirements for retirement pursuant to the provisions of this section and if that member leaves the member contributions on deposit in the fund, that member may apply for retirement when that member meets the age and service credit requirements for retirement pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act or provisions of the Public Employees Retirement Reciprocity Act [Chapter 10, Article 13A NMSA 1978].
E. No member shall be eligible to receive a pension pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act while still in office.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 8; 2005, ch. 246, § 1; 2014, ch. 35, § 5.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-9 Amount of pension
10-12B-9. Amount of pension
A. For a judge or justice who occupied such an office prior to July 1, 1980, but who had ceased to hold such an office prior to that date and who elected to be excluded from the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act; or a judge or justice who occupied such an office on July 1, 1980, but who elected to be covered under the provisions of the retirement plan in effect at that time, the amount of monthly pension is an amount equal to one-twelfth of:
seventy-five percent of salary received during last year in office prior to retirement X number of years of service, not exceeding ten years, divided by ten.
seventy-five percent of salary received during last year in office prior to retirement
X
number of years of service, not exceeding ten years, divided by ten.
B. For a judge or justice who initially became a member before July 1, 2005 and who initially occupied such an office after July 1, 1980; or a judge or justice who occupied such an office on or before July 1, 1980 and who has elected to be covered pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act, the amount of monthly pension is an amount equal to the sum of:
(1) for service credit earned on or before June 30, 2014, an amount equal to one-twelfth of:
seventy-five percent of salary received during last year in office prior to retirement X.05 X (number of years of service, not exceeding fifteen years, plus five years); and
seventy-five percent of salary received during last year in office prior to retirement
X.05 X
(number of years of service, not exceeding fifteen years, plus five years); and
(2) for service credit earned on and after July 1, 2014, an amount equal to one-sixtieth of the greatest aggregate amount of salary received for sixty consecutive, but not necessarily continuous, months in office multiplied by the product of three and one-half percent times the number of years of service credit.
C. For a judge or justice who initially became a member after June 30, 2005 but on or before June 30, 2014, the amount of monthly pension is an amount equal to the sum of:
(1) for service credit earned on or before June 30, 2014, an amount equal to one-twelfth of the salary received during the last year in office prior to retirement multiplied by the product of three and seventy-five hundredths percent times the sum of the number of years of service; and
(2) for service credit earned on and after July 1, 2014, an amount equal to one-sixtieth of the greatest aggregate amount of salary received for sixty consecutive, but not necessarily continuous, months in office multiplied by the product of three and one-half percent times the number of years of service credit.
D. For a judge or justice who initially became a member on or after July 1, 2014, the amount of monthly pension under form of payment A is an amount equal to one-sixtieth of the greatest aggregate amount of salary received for sixty consecutive, but not necessarily continuous, months in office multiplied by the product of three and one-fourth percent times the number of years of service.
E. The amount of pension under form of payment A for a pension calculated pursuant to Subsection D of this section shall not exceed eighty-five percent of one-sixtieth of the greatest aggregate amount of salary received for sixty consecutive, but not necessarily continuous, months prior to the member leaving office.
F. The amount of pension payable for a pension calculated pursuant to Subsection A, B or C of this section shall not exceed eighty-five percent of one-sixtieth of the greatest aggregate amount of salary received for sixty consecutive, but not necessarily continuous, months prior to the member leaving office. A pension benefit determined pursuant to this subsection shall not be less than the benefit earned as of June 30, 2014.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 9; 2005, ch. 246, § 2; 2014, ch. 35, § 6.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-10 Member contributions; tax treatment
10-12B-10. Member contributions; tax treatment
A. On and after July 1, 2014, members, while in office, shall contribute ten and one-half percent of salary to the member contribution fund.
B. Upon implementation, the state, acting as employer of members covered pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act, shall, solely for the purpose of compliance with Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, pick up, for the purposes specified in that section, member contributions required by this section for all annual salary earned by the member. Member contributions picked up pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be treated as employer contributions for purposes of determining income tax obligations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; however, such picked-up member contributions shall be included in the determination of the member's gross annual salary for all other purposes under federal and state laws. Member contributions picked up pursuant to the provisions of this section shall continue to be designated member contributions for all purposes of the Judicial Retirement Act and shall be considered as part of the member's annual salary for purposes of determining the amount of the member's contribution. The provisions of this section are mandatory, and the member shall have no option concerning the pickup or concerning the receipt of the contributed amounts directly instead of having the amounts paid by the employer to the retirement system. Implementation occurs upon authorization by the board. In no event may implementation occur other than at the beginning of a pay period applicable to the member.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 10; 2004, ch. 101, § 1; 2005, ch. 246, § 3; 2009, ch. 127, § 7; 2011, ch. 178, § 8; 2014, ch. 35, § 7.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-11 Employer contributions
10-12B-11. Employer contributions
A. The member's court shall contribute fifteen percent of salary to the fund for each member in office.
B. Thirty-eight dollars ($38.00) from each civil case docket fee paid in the district court, twenty-five dollars ($25.00) from each civil docket fee paid in metropolitan court and ten dollars ($10.00) from each jury fee paid in metropolitan court shall be paid by the court clerk to the employer's accumulation fund.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 11; 2003, ch. 81, § 3; 2005, ch. 246, § 4; 2009, ch. 127, § 8; 2011, ch. 178, § 9; 2014, ch. 35, § 8.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-12 Early retirement
10-12B-12. Early retirement
A. Any member who initially became a member prior to July 1, 2005 and has not less than eighteen years of service credit may elect to retire at any time between age fifty and age sixty and receive a monthly pension that is one-twelfth of the following formula:
Salary received during the last full year in office prior to retirement X.7 + (.005 X Number of years between age fifty and the age at retirement).
Salary received during the last full year in office prior to retirement
X.7 + (.005 X
Number of years between age fifty and the age at retirement).
B. The provisions of the Public Employees Retirement Reciprocity Act [Chapter 10, Article 13A NMSA 1978] and the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act regarding cost-of-living adjustments shall apply to the provisions of this section.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 12; 2005, ch. 246, § 5.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-13 Disability retirement pension
10-12B-13. Disability retirement pension
A. A judge or justice with the applicable minimum number of years of service credit accrued pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act who becomes unable to carry out the duties of that office due to physical or mental disability shall, upon determination of the disability and relinquishment of office, receive a pension from the fund so long as the disability continues. Determination of disability shall be made by the board in accordance with the provisions of the Public Employees Retirement Act [Chapter 10, Article 11 NMSA 1978] and rules promulgated pursuant to that act.
B. The amount of the pension shall be calculated using the formula for normal retirement set out in Section 10-12B-9 NMSA 1978.
C. The applicable service credit requirement shall be waived if the board finds the disability to have been the natural and proximate result of causes arising solely and exclusively out of and in the course of the member's performance of duty as a judge or justice, and the amount of pension shall be computed as if the member had the applicable minimum number of years of service credit as a judge or justice.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 13; 2014, ch. 35, § 9.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-14 Survivor's pension
10-12B-14. Survivor's pension
For a member whose initial term of office began prior to July 1, 2014:
A. unless that member has designated a survivor beneficiary in accordance with Subsection B of this section, a survivor pension shall be paid for life to a member's or retired member's surviving spouse;
B. the member may designate, in writing in a form prescribed by the association, a survivor beneficiary to receive the survivor's pension described in this section. If the member is married, a designation of survivor beneficiary other than the member's spouse or a supplemental needs trust to which the spouse is a beneficiary may only be made with the written consent of the member's spouse. Marriage subsequent to a designation of survivor beneficiary shall automatically revoke the designation of survivor beneficiary. A designation of survivor beneficiary made pursuant to a court order issued under Section 10-12B-7 NMSA 1978 shall not require the consent of the member's spouse, if any, and shall not be revoked by the subsequent remarriage of the member. A designation of survivor beneficiary may be revoked by the member at any time prior to the member's retirement. If the member is married, a revocation of designation of survivor beneficiary may only be made with the written consent of the member's spouse;
C. if there is no surviving spouse and no designated survivor beneficiary or if the surviving spouse dies while there are still minor and dependent children of the member, the survivor's pension shall be paid to all minor and dependent children, if any, of the member, in equal shares, so long as each child remains a minor or dependent child. As each child ceases to be a minor or dependent child, the number of shares shall be reduced and the amount payable to each remaining child increased proportionately so that the total survivor's pension remains unchanged as long as there is any such child;
D. the survivor's pension is equal to seventy-five percent of the member's pension;
E. survivor beneficiaries shall be eligible for other benefits provided pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act, including cost-of-living adjustments and continuation of group insurance benefits; and
F. if the member dies while receiving a disability retirement pension, the survivor beneficiary shall receive the survivor pension provided pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 14; 2014, ch. 35, § 10; 2023, ch. 156, § 7.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-14.1 Election form of pension
10-12B-14.1. Election form of pension
For a member whose initial term in office begins on or after July 1, 2014, except as otherwise provided in Section 10-12B-7 NMSA 1978:
A. the member may elect to have pension payments made under any one of the forms of payment provided in Section 10-12B-14.2 NMSA 1978. The election of form of payment and naming of survivor pension beneficiary shall be made on a form furnished by and filed with the association prior to the date the first pension payment is made. An election of form of payment may not be changed after the date the first pension payment is made. If the member is married, the association shall require the consent of the member's spouse to the election of the form of payment and any designation of survivor pension beneficiary before the election or designation is effective. Except as provided in Subsection C, D or E of this section, a named survivor pension beneficiary may not be changed after the date the first pension payment is made if form of payment B or C is elected. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10-12B-7 NMSA 1978, payment shall be made:
(1) under form of payment A if the member is not married at the time of retirement and if there is not a timely election of another form of payment; or
(2) under form of payment C with the member's spouse as survivor pension beneficiary if the member is married at the time of retirement and there is not a timely election of another form of payment;
B. the amount of pension under forms of payment B, C and D shall have the same actuarial present value, computed as of the effective date of the pension, as the amount of pension under form of payment A;
C. if the member is a retired member who is being paid a pension under form of payment B or C with the member's spouse or a supplemental needs trust to which the spouse is a beneficiary as the designated survivor pension beneficiary, the retired member may, upon becoming divorced from the named spouse and subject to an order of a court as provided for in Section 10-12B-7 NMSA 1978, elect to have future payments made under form of payment A;
D. if the member is retired and was previously being paid a pension under form of payment B or C but, because of the death of the designated survivor pension beneficiary or the death of the beneficiary of a supplemental needs trust or the termination of that trust, is currently receiving a pension under form of payment A, the retired member may exercise a one-time irrevocable option to designate another survivor pension beneficiary and may select either form of payment B or form of payment C; provided that:
(1) the amount of the pension under the form of payment selected shall be recalculated and have the same actuarial present value, computed on the effective date of the designation, as the amount of pension under form of payment A;
(2) the designation and the amount of the pension shall be subject to a court order as provided for in Section 10-12B-7 NMSA 1978; and
(3) the retired member shall pay one hundred dollars ($100) to the board to defray the cost of determining the new pension amount; and
E. if the member is a retired member who is being paid a pension under form of payment B or C with a living or operating designated survivor pension beneficiary other than the retired member's spouse or former spouse or the supplemental needs trust of the retired member's spouse or former spouse, the retired member may exercise a one-time irrevocable option to deselect the designated beneficiary and elect to:
(1) designate another survivor pension beneficiary; provided that:
(a) the retired member shall not have an option to change from the current form of payment;
(b) the amount of the pension under the form of payment shall be recalculated and shall have the same actuarial present value, computed as of the effective date of the designation, as the amount of pension under form of payment A; and
(c) the retired member shall pay one hundred dollars ($100) to the board to defray the cost of determining the new pension amount; or
(2) have future payments made under form of payment A.
1978 Comp., § 10-12B-14.1, enacted by Laws 2014, ch. 35, § 11; 2023, ch. 156, § 8.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-14.2 Form of pension payment
10-12B-14.2. Form of pension payment
A. Straight life pension is form of payment A. The retired member is paid the pension for life under form of payment A. All payments stop upon the death of the retired member, except as provided in Subsection E of this section. The amount of pension is determined in accordance with the Judicial Retirement Act.
B. Life payments with full continuation to one survivor beneficiary is form of payment B. The retired member is paid a reduced pension for life under form of payment B. When the retired member dies, the designated survivor beneficiary is paid the full amount of the reduced pension until death or in the event that supplemental needs trust is the designated survivor beneficiary, the termination of that trust or the death of the beneficiary of that trust. If the designated survivor beneficiary or the beneficiary of a supplemental needs trust predeceases the retired member or if the supplemental needs trust terminates while the retired member is living, the amount of pension shall be changed to the amount that would have been payable had the retired member elected form of payment A.
C. Life payment with one-half continuation to one survivor beneficiary is form of payment C. The retired member is paid a reduced pension for life under form of payment C. When the retired member dies, the designated survivor beneficiary is paid one-half the amount of the reduced pension until death or in the event that a supplemental needs trust is the designated survivor beneficiary, the termination of that trust or the death of the beneficiary of that trust. If the designated survivor beneficiary or if the beneficiary of a supplemental needs trust predeceases the retired member or if the supplemental needs trust terminates while the retired member is living, the amount of pension shall be changed to the amount that would have been payable had the retired member elected form of payment A.
D. Life payments with temporary survivor benefits for children is form of payment D. The retired member is paid a reduced pension for life under form of payment D. When the retired member dies, each declared eligible child is paid a share of the reduced pension until death or age twenty-five years, whichever occurs first. The share is the share specified in writing and filed with the association by the retired member. If shares are not specified in writing and filed with the association, each declared eligible child is paid an equal share of the reduced pension. A redetermination of shares shall be made when the pension of any child terminates. An eligible child is a natural or adopted child of the retired member who is under age twenty-five years. A declared eligible child is an eligible child whose name has been declared in writing and filed with the association by the retired member at the time of election of form of payment D. The amount of pension shall be changed to the amount of pension that would have been payable had the retired member elected form of payment A upon there ceasing to be a declared eligible child during the lifetime of the retired member.
E. If all pension payments permanently terminate before there is paid an aggregate amount equal to the retired member's accumulated member contributions at the time of retirement, the difference between the amount of accumulated member contributions and the aggregate amount of pension paid shall be paid to the retired member's refund beneficiary. If no refund beneficiary survives the retired member, the difference shall be paid to the estate of the retired member.
1978 Comp., § 10-12B-14.2, enacted by Laws 2014, ch. 35, § 12; 2023, ch. 156, § 9.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-14.3 Death before retirement; survivor pension
10-12B-14.3. Death before retirement; survivor pension
For a member whose initial term in office begins on or after July 1, 2014:
A. a survivor pension may be paid to certain persons related to or designated by a member who dies before normal or disability retirement if a written application for the pension, in the form prescribed by the association, is filed with the association by the potential survivor beneficiary or beneficiaries within one year of the death of the member. Applications may be filed on behalf of the potential survivor beneficiary or beneficiaries or by a person legally authorized to represent them;
B. if there is no designated survivor beneficiary and the board finds the death to have been the natural and proximate result of causes arising solely and exclusively out of and in the course of the member's performance of duty while in office, a survivor pension shall be payable to the eligible surviving spouse. The amount of the survivor pension shall be the greater of:
(1) the amount as calculated pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Act and applicable to the deceased member at the time of death as though the deceased member had retired the day preceding death under form of payment B using the actual amount of service credit attributable to the deceased member at the time of death; or
(2) fifty percent of the deceased member's final average salary;
C. a survivor pension shall also be payable to eligible surviving children if there is no designated survivor beneficiary and the retirement board finds the death to have been the natural and proximate result of causes arising solely and exclusively out of and in the course of the member's performance of duty while in office. The total amount of survivor pension payable for all eligible surviving children shall be either:
(1) fifty percent of the deceased member's final average salary if an eligible surviving spouse is not paid a pension; or
(2) twenty-five percent of the deceased member's final average salary if an eligible surviving spouse is paid a pension.
The total amount of survivor pension shall be divided equally among all eligible surviving children. If there is only one eligible child, the amount of pension shall be twenty-five percent of the deceased member's final average salary;
D. if the member had the applicable minimum number of years of service credit required for normal retirement, but the retirement board did not find the death to have been the natural and proximate result of causes arising solely and exclusively out of and in the course of the member's performance of duty while in office and there is no designated survivor beneficiary, a survivor pension shall be payable to the eligible surviving spouse. The amount of the survivor pension shall be the greater of:
(1) the amount as calculated under the Judicial Retirement Act applicable to the deceased member at the time of death as though the deceased member had retired the day preceding death under form of payment B using the total amount of actual service credit attributable to the deceased member at the time of death; or
(2) thirty percent of the deceased member's final average salary;
E. if the member had the applicable minimum number of years of service credit required for normal retirement, but the retirement board did not find the death to have been the natural and proximate result of causes arising solely and exclusively out of and in the course of the member's performance of duty while in office and there is no designated survivor beneficiary, and if there is no eligible surviving spouse at the time of death, a survivor pension shall be payable to and divided equally among all eligible surviving children, if any. The total amount of survivor pension payable for all eligible surviving children shall be the greater of:
(1) the amount as calculated under the Judicial Retirement Act applicable to the deceased member at the time of death as though the deceased member had retired the day preceding death under form of payment B with the oldest eligible surviving child as the survivor beneficiary using the total amount of actual service credit attributable to the deceased member at the time of death; or
(2) thirty percent of the deceased member's final average salary;
F. an eligible surviving spouse is the spouse to whom the deceased member was married at the time of death. An eligible surviving child is a child under the age of eighteen years and who is an unmarried, natural or adopted child of the deceased member;
G. an eligible surviving spouse's pension shall terminate upon death. An eligible surviving child's pension shall terminate upon death or marriage or reaching age eighteen years, whichever comes first;
H. if there is no designated survivor beneficiary and there is no eligible surviving child, the eligible surviving spouse may elect to be refunded the deceased member's accumulated member contributions instead of receiving a survivor pension;
I. a member may designate a survivor beneficiary to receive a pre-retirement survivor pension, subject to the following conditions:
(1) a written designation, in the form prescribed by the association, is filed by the member with the association;
(2) if the member is married at the time of designation, the designation shall only be made with the consent of the member's spouse, in the form prescribed by the association;
(3) if the member is married subsequent to the time of designation, any prior designations shall automatically be revoked upon the date of the marriage;
(4) if the member is divorced subsequent to the time of designation, any prior designation of the former spouse or a supplemental needs trust to which the spouse is a beneficiary as survivor beneficiary shall automatically be revoked upon the date of divorce; and
(5) a designation of survivor beneficiary may be changed, with the member's spouse's consent if the member is married, by the member at any time prior to the member's death;
J. if there is a designated survivor beneficiary and the board finds the death to have been the natural and proximate result of causes arising solely and exclusively out of and in the course of the member's performance of duty while in office, a survivor pension shall be payable to the designated survivor beneficiary. The amount of the survivor pension shall be the greater of:
(1) the amount as calculated under the Judicial Retirement Act applicable to the deceased member at the time of death as though the deceased member had retired the day preceding death under form of payment B using the actual amount of service credit attributable to the member at the time of death; or
(2) fifty percent of the deceased member's final average salary;
K. if there is a designated survivor beneficiary, if the member had the applicable minimum number of years of service credit required for normal retirement and if the retirement board did not find the death to have been the natural and proximate result of causes arising solely and exclusively out of and in the course of the member's performance of duty while in office, a survivor pension shall be payable to the designated survivor beneficiary. The amount of the survivor pension shall be the greater of:
(1) the amount as calculated under the Judicial Retirement Act applicable to the deceased member at the time of death as though the deceased member had retired the day preceding death under form of payment B using the actual amount of service credit attributable to the member at the time of death; or
(2) thirty percent of the deceased member's final average salary;
L. if all pension payments permanently terminate before there is paid an aggregate amount equal to the deceased member's accumulated member contributions at time of death, the difference between the amount of accumulated member contributions and the aggregate amount of pension paid shall be paid to the deceased member's refund beneficiary. If no refund beneficiary survives the survivor beneficiary, the difference shall be paid to the estate of the deceased member; and
M. for purposes of this section, "service credit" means only the service credit earned by a member during periods in office as a judge or justice.
1978 Comp., § 10-12B-14.3, enacted by Laws 2014, ch. 35, § 13; 2023, ch. 156, § 10.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-15 Cost-of-living adjustment
10-12B-15. Cost-of-living adjustment
A qualified pension recipient is eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment payable pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act as follows:
A. beginning July 1, 2014 and continuing through June 30, 2016, there shall not be a cost-of-living adjustment applied to a pension payable pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Act; and
B. beginning on May 1, 2016 and no later than each May 1 thereafter:
(1) the board shall certify to the association the actuarial funded ratio of the fund as of June 30 of the preceding calendar year;
(2) if, pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this subsection, the certified funded ratio is greater than or equal to one hundred percent, the board shall next certify the projected funded ratio of the fund on July 1 of the next succeeding calendar year if, effective July 1 of the current calendar year, a cost-of-living increase of two percent is applied to all payable pensions; and
(3) on each July 1 following the board's certification of the funded ratio, the cost-of-living adjustment, if any, applied to a pension payable pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Act shall be determined as follows:
(a) if, pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this subsection, the funded ratio of the fund is greater than or equal to one hundred percent, and if, pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this subsection, the projected funded ratio is greater than or equal to one hundred percent, the amount of pension payable beginning July 1 of the next fiscal year shall be increased two percent. The amount of the increase shall be determined by multiplying the amount of the pension inclusive of all prior adjustments by two percent; and
(b) if the funded ratio of the fund, as certified pursuant to Paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, is less than one hundred percent, the amount of pension payable shall not include a cost-of-living adjustment; provided, however, that, if, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, the cost-of-living adjustment is suspended for the two consecutive fiscal years immediately prior to the most recent certification of the funded ratio by the board: 1) the amount of pension payable in the fiscal year immediately following the two-year suspension shall be increased two percent regardless of the certified funded ratio; and 2) thereafter, if, pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this subsection, the certified funded ratio is less than one hundred percent, the provisions of this subsection shall apply without exception in the next succeeding fiscal year.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 15; 2014, ch. 35, § 14.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-15.1 Qualified pension recipient; cost-of-living-adjustment wait period; declining increase
10-12B-15.1. Qualified pension recipient; cost-of-living-adjustment wait period; declining increase
A. Pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Act, a qualified pension recipient is a:
(1) normal retired member who retires:
(a) on or before June 30, 2014 and has been retired for at least two full calendar years from the effective date of the latest retirement prior to July 1 of the year in which the pension is being adjusted;
(b) between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 and has been retired for at least three full calendar years from the effective date of the latest retirement prior to July 1 of the year in which the pension is being adjusted;
(c) between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016 and has been retired for at least four full calendar years from the effective date of the latest retirement prior to July 1 of the year in which the pension is being adjusted; or
(d) on or after July 1, 2016 and has been retired for at least seven full calendar years from the effective date of the latest retirement prior to July 1 of the year in which the pension is being adjusted;
(2) normal retired member who is at least sixty-five years of age and has been retired for at least one full calendar year from the effective date of the latest retirement prior to July 1 of the year in which the pension is being adjusted;
(3) disability retired member who has been retired for at least one full calendar year from the effective date of the latest retirement prior to July 1 of the year in which the pension is being adjusted;
(4) survivor beneficiary who has received a survivor pension for at least two full calendar years; or
(5) survivor beneficiary of a deceased retired member who otherwise would have been retired at least two full calendar years from the effective date of the latest retirement prior to July 1 of the year in which the pension is being adjusted.
B. A qualified pension recipient may decline an increase in a pension by giving the association written notice of the decision to decline the increase at least thirty days prior to the date the increase would take effect.
1978 Comp., § 10-12B-15.1, enacted by Laws 2014, ch. 35, § 15.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-16 Group insurance; continuation
10-12B-16. Group insurance; continuation
If the provisions of the Retiree Health Care Act [Chapter 10, Article 7C NMSA 1978] do not apply to a retired member, that retired member may continue to be insured under the provisions of any state group insurance plan in effect at the time of retirement or under the terms of any separate subsequent state group insurance plan, if the retired member pays the entire periodic premium charges for such insurance and consents to have the periodic premium charges deducted from the retired member's pension.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 16.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-17 Suspension or forfeiture of benefits
10-12B-17. Suspension or forfeiture of benefits
A. If a member retires and is subsequently employed by any employer covered by any state system or the educational retirement system, the retired member's pension shall be suspended effective the first day of the month following the month in which the subsequent employment begins. The suspended pension of a previously retired member shall resume and be effective the first day of the month following the month in which the member leaves office or terminates the subsequent employment.
B. The right to receive a pension pursuant to the provisions of the Judicial Retirement Act shall be forfeited if the member is removed from office pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, Section 32 of the constitution of New Mexico and the member's only entitlement from the fund shall be the refund of the member's own contributions.
Laws 1992, ch. 111, § 17.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-18 Adjustment of pension
10-12B-18. Adjustment of pension
A. If payment of a pension or other retirement benefit causes a decrease in the amount of monetary payments or other needs-based benefits due to a payee from any other governmental agency, the pension or other retirement benefit shall be reduced for the period during which the pension or other retirement benefit prevents payment of another needs-based benefit to result in payment of the maximum amount possible by the association and the other governmental agency to the payee. Any amounts that would otherwise be paid out that are not paid in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be recoverable by a payee at any later date.
B. If there is a change in the effect of pension or other retirement benefit on any monetary payments or other needs-based benefits due to a payee from any other governmental agency, the pension or other retirement benefits shall be adjusted to result in the maximum total benefit to the payee. In no event shall any pension be increased in an amount greater than that authorized by the Judicial Retirement Act.
C. The provisions of this section are mandatory and shall not be waived or declined by a payee. Each payee shall provide the association with all information necessary for the association to carry out the requirements imposed by this section.
D. If the payee fails to provide all the facts necessary to comply with the requirements imposed by this section, and payment of a pension or other retirement benefit is made without making the adjustment required by this section, neither the board, the executive director nor any officer or employee of the association or the board shall be liable to any third party because the adjustment was not made as required.
E. As used in this section:
(1) "pension" means a normal retirement, survivor or disability retirement pension payable to a retired member or survivor beneficiary pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Act;
(2) "governmental agency" means the federal government, any department or agency of the federal government, any state and any department, agency or political subdivision of a state;
(3) "total benefits" means pensions plus any other monetary payments or other needs-based benefits due to the payee from any governmental agency;
(4) "needs-based benefit" means monetary or other benefits for which a determination of eligibility is based upon the recipient's level of income and resources; and
(5) "payee" means a retired member or the refund beneficiary or survivor beneficiary of a retired member.
Laws 1995, ch. 115, § 4; 1997, ch. 189, § 13.
NMSA 1978, § 10-12B-19 Corrections of errors and omissions; estoppel
10-12B-19. Corrections of errors and omissions; estoppel
A. If an error or omission results in overpayment to a member or beneficiary of a member, the association shall correct the error or omission and adjust all future payments accordingly. The association shall recover all overpayments made for a period of up to one year prior to the date the error or omission was discovered.
B. A person who is paid more than the amount that is lawfully due him as a result of fraudulent information provided by the member or beneficiary shall be liable for the repayment of that amount to the association plus interest on that amount at the rate set by the board plus all costs of collection, including attorney fees if necessary. Recovery of such overpayment shall extend back to the date the first payment was made based on the fraudulent information.
C. Statements of fact or law made by board members or employees of the board or the association shall not estop the board or the association from acting in accordance with the applicable statutes.
Laws 1995, ch. 115, § 5; 1997, ch. 189, § 14.
Source: New Mexico Compilation Commission (nmonesource.com)URL: https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18510/index.doFetched: 10/20/2026