44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING THAT A TASK FORCE BE APPOINTED TO STUDY AND DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF COMPENSATION FOR MUNICIPAL JUDGES.

WHEREAS, the supreme court of New Mexico has ruled that municipal courts are an independent branch of government similar to the judicial branch of state government; and

WHEREAS, in municipalities with a population over ten thousand, the municipal court has a caseload approximating that of a magistrate judge in those counties; and

WHEREAS, the size of the court and the number of court employees vary greatly among the municipalities with a population over ten thousand; and

WHEREAS, the budgets of municipal courts are dependent upon the action of the governing bodies of the municipalities; and

WHEREAS, municipal judges in municipalities with a population over ten thousand are required to operate a court in a manner similar to that of a magistrate court;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that a task force be formed to study and develop recommendations for a system of compensation for municipal judges in municipalities with a population of more than ten thousand and that the study consider such factors as caseload, court size, budgets and populations served for municipal courts compared with those for comparable magistrate courts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consist of the president of the New Mexico municipal judges association, the president of the New Mexico municipal league and two additional members appointed by each president; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico municipal league and to the New Mexico municipal judges association.