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New Mexico chief justice urges pay increases, security upgrades and tech funding for courts
Summary
Chief Justice David K. Thompson told a joint session of the Legislature that the judiciary needs recurring pay increases for lower-paid staff, recurring funding for juror costs, one-time security upgrades and expanded technology investment, and he described recent pilot programs in behavioral-health court services.
Chief Justice David K. Thompson of the New Mexico Supreme Court told a joint session of the Legislature on Jan. 10 that the state judiciary needs targeted increases in staff pay, recurring funding for juror costs, a major one‑time investment in courthouse security, and additional information‑technology funding to improve court operations.
Thompson framed the requests as necessary to preserve the courts’ core function of delivering “equal justice under law,” and said the judiciary will continue to support legislative policy goals — including behavioral‑health initiatives — only if its basic operational needs are met. “Raising our judicial staff to pay the to pay of the executive staff is not only essential to retention, but reflects integrity and fairness in New Mexico government,” Thompson said.
The chief justice emphasized five priorities. First, he asked the Legislature to fund a pay increase targeted at the lower‑paid judicial employees to reduce turnover and
