Kea Whetzal Riggs at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · Federal
- Judicial service
- December 31, 2019–present
Kea Whetzal Riggs
Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Professional Career: Adjunct professor, New Mexico Highlands University--Roswell, 2006-2009, 2011
- Professional Career: Private practice, Roswell, New Mexico, 1999-2004
- Professional Career: Adjunct professor, Eastern New Mexico University--Roswell, 2001-2002, 2008-2009, 2012-2014
- Professional Career: Private practice, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1990-1991
- Professional Career: Children's court attorney, Children, Youth and Families Department, State of New Mexico, 1993-1994
- Professional Career: Special master and mediator (part-time), self-employed, Roswell, New Mexico, 2006-2012
- Professional Career: Senior trial prosecutor, Fifth Judicial District, State of New Mexico, 1994-1999
- Professional Career: Assistant district attorney, Third Judicial District, State of New Mexico, 1991-1993
Judicial service
- Professional Career: Judge, New Mexico District Court, Fifth Judicial District, 2014-2019
Education
- University of Oklahoma · B.A., 1987
- University of Oklahoma College of Law · J.D., 1990
Personal record
Born 1965 · Midwest City
Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/7545461Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts