SENATE BILL 237

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob Candelaria

AN ACT

RELATING TO PROBATE COURTS; REQUIRING CERTAIN PROBATE JUDGES TO BE MEMBERS OF THE STATE BAR OF NEW MEXICO.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 34-7-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1865, Chapter 21, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "34-7-1. PROBATE JUDGE--AUTHORIZED.--

          A. There shall be a probate judge in each county of this state. The position of probate judge shall be deemed a part-time position.

          B. No person in a class A county with a population of more than five hundred thousand according to the most recent federal decennial census shall be eligible for or appointed to the office of probate judge unless that person is a member of the state bar of New Mexico and has practiced law in this state for a minimum of two years."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2013.

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