In all suits, under this chapter [44-5-1 to 44-5-14 NMSA 1978], before a justice of the peace [magistrate], the plaintiff may call in the defendant to answer, on oath, any interrogatory touching the case, and if the defendant refuse to answer, the same shall be taken as confessed. History: Laws 1856-1857, p. 36; C.L. 1865, ch. 36, § 8; C.L. 1884, § 2297; C.L. 1897, § 3206; Code 1915, § 2514; C.S. 1929, § 58-108; 1941 Comp., § 25-1008; 1953 Comp., § 22-10-8. ANNOTATIONSCompiler's notes. — The term 'this chapter' was substituted for the term 'this act' by the 1915 Code compilers and refers to ch. 48 of the 1915 Code. Laws 1968, ch. 62, § 40, abolishes the office of justice of the peace and provides that whenever the term 'justice of the peace' occurs in the laws it shall be construed to refer to the magistrate court. See 35-1-38 NMSA 1978.
New Mexico Legal Code