Subject matter jurisdiction defines a court’s power to decide a lawsuit involving a particular subject matter, and to render an enforceable judgment. A court generally has jurisdiction when the particular claim raised in the case is within its constitutional jurisdiction—as provided by the state constitution or the U.S. Constitution—or because jurisdiction has been mandated by the state legislature or the United States Congress.

In New Mexico, subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear and decide cases of a specific nature. The New Mexico Constitution, along with state statutes, delineates the scope of jurisdiction for different courts within the state. For instance, the New Mexico District Courts are courts of general jurisdiction and can hear a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, juvenile, and family law matters. On the other hand, limited jurisdiction courts, such as magistrate courts and municipal courts, are restricted to certain types of cases, such as misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims. The jurisdiction of federal courts in New Mexico, as in other states, is determined by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress. Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and cases where there is diversity of citizenship among the parties and the amount in controversy exceeds a statutory threshold. It is important for a court to have subject matter jurisdiction to render a legally binding and enforceable judgment. If a court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any judgment or order it issues can be challenged and potentially deemed invalid.