City Manager: Joe Neeb Municipal Judge: Joe Seskey
Municipal Court Municipal Court Operations The budget of the Municipal Court is approved by City Council. The Municipal Judge has overall responsibility for the day to day operations of the Court and its employees. The Supreme Court of New Mexico has superintending authority over the Municipal Court and sets policy guidance and rules it must follow. Judgements and Decisions in Municipal Court may be appealed to District Court.
Municipal Court 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. The court hears cases initiated by Officers of the Roswell Police Department, Animal Services, and Code Enforcement.
Employees 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. Employees, including the Judge attend professional development training throughout the year. The Municipal Judge attends yearly required training as mandated by the Supreme Court of New Mexico. Training is conducted through 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. In 2019, our Court Administrator Belinda Franco was selected to serve on the Education Committee of the Municipal Court Clerks Association.
The maximum sentence that a Municipal Judge may impose in a criminal offense in violation of City ordinance is 90 days in jail and a 500.00 fine. Penalties for traffic violations are approved by City Council adopted by ordinance. In 2019, a total of 1,586 violations of criminal ordinances were filed in Municipal Court. There were 3,266 violations of traffic ordinances filed. There were 181 parking tickets filed. In some instances, persons cited into Municipal Court fail to appear when required. This requires the Court to issue and mail a summons requesting their appearance by a certain date. If the defendant fails to appear after a summons has been issued, a warrant for their arrest may be initiated. Police Officers may also apply directly to the court for arrest warrants in criminal matters they have investigated. In 2019, the Court issued 1,736 warrants. Municipal Courts are authorized to perform Wedding Ceremonies. Municipal Court provides this service at no charge. There were 188 weddings performed in 2019.
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