New Mexico. District Court (4th Judicial District)

With the occupation of New Mexico in 1846 by the United States seven political sub-divisions established by Mexico in 1844 were recognized as counties under the Kearny Code of Laws. San Miguel was one of these original seven counties. New Mexico remained under a military form of government until Sept. 9, 1850, when an Act of Congress established the Territory of New Mexico. On January 9, 1852, the boundaries of the counties were fixed by an Act of the Territorial Legislative Assembly.

San Miguel County was placed in the 1st Judicial District of the United States Territorial Courts in New Mexico in 1846. In 1877, San Miguel County was transferred from the 1st to the 4th Judicial District. Upon statehood in 1912, the Territorial Courts became the New Mexico District Courts.