On the question of a constitutional amendment dealing with our court appeal system, NMBC believes the judiciary system in place now serves the public’s best interest and should not be changed via the constitution. Allowing lower court decisions to be appealed without first going to District Court would overburden the Appeals Court. Also problematic is that a direct appeal from a metropolitan level court does not provide NM Appeals Court Judges with appropriate and detailed background on the case that a ‘Court of Record’ District Court does provide. 

The proposed constitutional amendment dealing with the appeals court would open the floodgate of cases being appealed, a boon for trial attorneys, a bust for the already overloaded Court of Appeals.