MUNICIPAL COURT
CITY MANAGER Joe Neeb
MUNICIPAL JUDGE Joe Seskey
ABOUT THE COURT YEAR IN REVIEW
by the COVID pandemic.
Representing the Judicial Branch of the City of Roswell, Municipal Court is responsible for the adjudication of misdemeanor criminal offenses in violation of municipal ordinances and traffic offenses adopted by the City from the New Mexico Uniform Traffic Code.
Most notably the community service program had to
The court hears cases initiated by Officers of the Roswell
This past year’s public health emergency did have an impact on Court Operations. The Court was presented with several challenges and operational changes. The Court is and will be committed to remain open and serving all users of the Court. The Court was able to adjust and work through several challenges presented
be temporarily paused due City staffing issues and the Chaves County Detention Center temporarily suspended the acceptance of Municipal defendants. The Municipal Court experienced several weeks during the initial stages of the public health emergency where there were limited filings or initiation of cases. In the initial stages of the pandemic the Court took steps to adjust and continue court cases to future dates while the effects of the public health emergency were
Police Department, Animal Services, Zoning and Code Enforcement.
E M P LOY E E S The Court is comprised of the Judge (elected by the citizens), a court administrator, four deputy court clerks, a bailiff, and two court compliance officers.
evaluated.
Employees, including the Judge attend professional
As we learned more information about the effects of
Judge attends yearly required training as mandated by
the virus, Courts throughout the State were required to conduct most matters using all remote means possible and limit the number of persons entering a Court Facility. The Municipal Court was required to submit an operational plan to New Mexico Supreme Court through the Administrative Office of the Courts for approval to operate during the public health emergency. The Roswell Municipal Court’s plan was approved as submitted and the Court successfully
development training throughout the year. The Municipal the Supreme Court of New Mexico. Training is conducted through the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the University of New Mexico’s Judicial Education Center. The Court Administrator, Deputy Court Clerks and Bailiff are members of the New Mexico Municipal Court Clerks Association. Due to the public health emergency training for judicial employees this past year has been modified and conducted
passed an on-site inspection with no issues noted.
through on line resources. Training for staff through their
The Court’s modified court operations do offer users
in 2021.
of the court all remote means to conduct business with the Court. The Court has instituted screening protocols for users of the court entering the facility and increased our cleaning and sanitizing of the facility. The court continues to adapt to meet the changing demands of the situations presented in these challenging times.
47
respective associations has been postponed to future dates
