45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO COURTS; PROVIDING FOR THE ELIMINATION OF TWO DIVISIONS IN THE LEA MAGISTRATE DISTRICT; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 35-1-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 18, as amended) is amended to read:

"35-1-16. MAGISTRATE COURT--LEA DISTRICT.--

A. Subject to the provisions of Subsection B of this section, there shall be five magistrates in Lea magistrate district, division 1 in Lovington, divisions 2 and 5 operating as a single court in Hobbs, division 3 in Eunice and division 4 in Tatum. The division 3 magistrate shall ride circuit to Jal on a regularly scheduled basis and shall ride circuit to Hobbs as needed.

B. Unless the director of the administrative office of the courts determines that the caseload in Lea county merits more than three magistrate judges in that county, primary and general elections shall not be held for divisions 4 and 5 in 2002, and the term of service for divisions 4 and 5 shall end on December 31, 2002."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.