SENATE BILL 980

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

John Arthur Smith

AN ACT

RELATING TO COURTS; ELIMINATING A MAGISTRATE JUDGE POSITION IN THE LEA MAGISTRATE DISTRICT.

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. Until January 1, 2007, 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. Effective January 1, 2007, there shall be four magistrates in the Lea magistrate district, division 1 in Lovington, divisions 2 and 5 operating as a single court in Hobbs and division 3 in Eunice. The division 1 magistrate shall ride circuit to Tatum on a regularly scheduled basis. The division 3 magistrate shall ride circuit to Jal on a regularly scheduled basis and shall ride circuit to Hobbs as needed."

     Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--COURT CLOSURES--CLERK POSITIONS--OTHER RESOURCES.--The magistrate court clerk positions assigned to the magistrate courts shall not be decreased as a result of this act, but the administrative office of the courts shall reassign positions from the abolished court to other magistrate courts. The administrative office of the courts shall reassign other resources, including furniture, equipment and supplies, to other magistrate courts as needed.

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