Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Court Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel backs bill to add family‑court judgeship to Second Judicial District
Summary
Lawyers, judges and advocates urged the Judiciary Committee to approve a bill creating an additional judgeship for the Second Judicial District’s family division to reduce large caseloads; the committee issued a do‑pass recommendation.
Representative Hockman B. Hill presented House Bill 147 seeking a new judge position in the Second Judicial District family (children’s) court. District court judge Jane Levy described heavy caseloads and the need for an additional judge: "We have been assigned, on average, 2,433 cases, in fiscal year 2024," Judge Levy said, and she cited more than 3,650 domestic‑violence cases filed or reopened in one year in the domestic‑violence division.
Family‑court practitioners and advocates testified in support. Family law attorneys and court‑appointed facilitators said delays harm children and survivors; one attorney said the courts are "drinking water out of a fire hydrant." Amber Macias Mayo, Tiffany Oliver Lee and other family law practitioners described long waits for hearings and said the shortage slows access to protection orders, custody decisions and services for children with special needs.
Representative Hockman described a workload‑study recommendation for additional judges and said the bill asks for one judgeship now to make immediate progress while space and funding issues are addressed. Speakers and committee members discussed whether to request one or two judges; the sponsor said a single judgeship was a pragmatic initial step because of building‑space and budget constraints.
The committee voted to give HB147 a do‑pass recommendation (motion by Representative Hall, seconded by Representative Abeyta). Members emphasized the burden on family courts, particularly in Bernalillo County, and several members urged seeking further resources in the budget process.
Votes at a glance: HB147 (Second Judicial District additional judge) — motion: do pass; mover: Representative Hall; second: Representative Abeyta; outcome: do pass (recorded as majority among members present).
