Jal Magistrate Court is one of the magistrate courts in Lea county in the judicial system of New Mexico.

In the early 1800's water was plentiful and and gamma grass grew high around the area of Jal. These attributes attracted the Cowden boys of Midland, Texas who moved the John A. Lynch herd to an area a few miles Northeast of present day Jal. The cattle were branded with the letters JAL and this name was registered. Around 1910 a pioneer to the area built a store and post office effectively starting the town. However in a dispute with the ranchers he moved the town to an area called Muleshoe Draw. The city experienced two economic booms due to the oil wells drilled in the area around 1927 and around 1934. Jal Lake State park features a man made lake which is unique in that when viewed from the air spells out the name of the town. Folks it was not created by Martians or other extraterrestrials. Anglers are reassured a yearly stocked supply of fish and the park has tennis courts, a basketball court, picnic pavilions, barbeque pits, playground equipment and RV spaces.