The Legal Department represents San Juan County, the Board of County Commissioners and County Elected Officials in legal matters and provides legal advice and assistance to the County Manager and staff.

This Department Does

• Advise, represent and defend the Board of County Commissioners, its members, the County and its employees, and the elected officials and appointed officials before courts and administrative bodies.
• Advise and represent the San Juan Water Commission, San Juan County Communication Authority and San Juan County Criminal Justice Training Authority.
• Provide legal services relating to County real estate transactions, bond issues, procurement, contracts, taxes, personnel, drafting and enforcing ordinances, and collecting any claims existing in favor of the County or its agencies.

This Department Does Not

• Provide legal services to individual employees on personal matters.
• Provide legal services to citizens on any matters.

Under the law, every person has a right to inspect public records, with certain limited exceptions.

Any person wishing to inspect public records of this County may submit a written request to the San Juan County records custodian, Joseph F. Sawyer, 100 South Oliver, Aztec, NM  87410.  Requests may be submitted by mail, by fax to (505) 334-3168, or through the following link: https://sanjuancountynm.justfoia.com/publicportal or the County’s website at www.sjcounty.net. The written request shall provide the name, address and telephone number of the person seeking access to the records and shall identify the records with reasonable particularity.  

Inspection of records will be allowed as soon as is practicable under the circumstances, not later than fifteen days after receipt of the request.  If the inspection is not permitted within three days after the request has been delivered to the custodian, a written explanation will be provided.  Copies may be available by request at the office of the custodian.  If copies are requested, a fee may be charged.  

Any questions about the procedure may be addressed to the Legal Department.