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Judge Baca urges weapons screening at Government Center; county staff outline options and legal limits
Summary
Probate Judge Judith Baca asked commissioners to consider screening for weapons at the Government Center after multiple disruptive incidents; county attorney and staff outlined constitutional constraints, judge-based authority for chambers, options including temporary metal detectors, alternative screening technology, and hardening the dais.
Judge Judith Baca told the Dona Ana County Commission she is concerned for the safety of court staff and county employees after encounters with agitated, sometimes incoherent visitors in the Government Center and asked the county to consider screening to prevent deadly weapons from entering the building.
“As an officer of the court, I think that is something I can request,” Judge Baca said, asking that the front entrance and halls leading to her chambers be screened to prevent firearms and other deadly weapons from being brought into the area.
County Attorney Carrie Neal told commissioners constitutional and state law constraints limit the board’s authority to broadly ban firearms on county…
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