NCJ Number
164847
Date Published
1996
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This annual report of the judicial branch of New Mexico provides information and statistics on the most important activities of the court system during the 1994-95 fiscal year, presents the initiatives begun for 1995-96, describes the structure of the New Mexico court system, and provides summary statistics for the various levels of courts.
Abstract
Five levels of court are funded by the State: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Court, Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, and Magistrate Court. During the year, the Administrative Office of the Courts received a Federal grant to assess judicial processes for handling child abuse, neglect, foster care, and adoption cases. The Supreme Court Foster Care Task Force has almost completed the assessment and expects to issue its report in February 1996. The Administrative Office of the Courts addressed particular concerns of the courts, such as the need to automate case processes and statistics, to increase the number of qualified Spanish/English court interpreters, and to improve the facilities of the magistrate courts. The Statewide Automation Project completed installation of the case-processing application in six courts and has established a schedule for installation of the application in all State courts by the end of fiscal year 1996-97. By the end of 1995, nine magistrate courts had moved into new or renovated buildings, and there were agreements to move 10 more courts into new or renovated buildings in early 1996. As the judiciary enters the new year, it faces issues related to automation, performance standards for trial courts, standards for jury management, professional training for court personnel, security, and ways to make courts more accessible to litigants without attorneys. Data on funding for State judiciary activity are included.