State budget crisis could affect makeup of juries

[TexasTowelie]

Juries of our peers can be found in any civics book, but they may be an endangered part of New Mexico’s judicial system.

With the state in a budget crisis, it says it could run out of money to pay jurors by March. Jurors who serve after that might have to wait to be paid until after July 1, when state government begins a new budget year.

Lack of money to pay jurors could shrink the pool of who can afford to serve. And the director of New Mexico’s judiciary says it also may negatively shape the makeup of juries to the detriment of justice.

Arthur Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, recently asked the state Board of Finance for about $800,000 in emergency funding for court operations. The board denied his request, telling him to ask the Legislature for the money and to come back in February if that fails.

Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/state-budget-crisis-could-affect-makeup-of-juries/article_324a5dfb-3a24-5830-93d9-351c54d5b8ff.html

[Warpy]

1. We have a Republican governor

'Nuff said.