New Mexico. District Court (8th 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. Taos 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.

Taos County, New Mexico was placed in the 2nd Judicial District of the United States Territorial Courts in New Mexico in 1846. In subsequent years Taos County was transferred from the 2nd to the 1st Judicial District (1863) and from the 1st to the 8th Judicial District (1912). Upon statehood in 1912, the Territorial Courts became the New Mexico District Courts.