State of New Mexico
Office of the Governor
Bill Richardson
Governor
State Capitol Room 400 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 505-827-3000 www.governor.state.nm.us
10/17/03
Governor Bill Richardson creates Task Force one Equity in the Judiciary
SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson today signed an executive order creating the Governor's Task Force on Equity in the Judiciary.
Governor Richardson charged the task force with recommending ways to improve funding and infrastructure in New Mexico's courts.
Governor Richardson delivered the following remarks today during a news conference:
Unfortunately Chief Justice Petra Maes could not be here. It's unfortunate because the announcement I am about to make is partly the result of her commitment to raise the profile of the judiciary to its proper standing in state government - as a co-equal branch.
For too long - especially during the past eight years - New Mexico's judiciary has been the neglected branch of government. Under past administrations, the fiscal and capital needs of the Judiciary - from the Supreme Court down to the magistrate courts across the state - have been an afterthought. As crime has increased, the judges, the clerks, the prosecutors and the defense attorneyshave been left to fend for themselves. They've been getting by - barelywith inadequate technology, unable to fully coordinate and manage the courts. Worse, they've done it with poor pay - some of the lowest salaries in the country. Beginning today, things are going to change. I am creating by executive order the Governor's Task Force on Equity in the Judiciary.
This task force will recommend ways to overcome the funding shortfalls. I want it to find ways to upgrade the courts' computer systems and replace crumbling courthouses in some of our counties. And I want concrete proposals to properly manage caseloads.
In short, this task force, whose members will be named very soon, will recommend how the courts can be supported in the budget and capital outlay processes. This Task Force will also study whether there are any statutory changes we can pursue in the Legislature to promote equity for the Judiciary.
The executive and legislative branches should treat the New Mexico Judiciary as a co-equal branch of government. More important, we should - and we will - provide the tools for the courts to carry out their mission to interpret and uphold the laws of the state.