SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's highest court has overturned a veto by Gov. Susana Martinez and ordered a 5 percent pay raise for judges across the state.
The state Supreme Court made the ruling Wednesday in a dispute focusing on the governor's power to veto spending in the state budget.
The Legislature approved two provisions intended to provide judges an 8 percent pay increase starting in July.
Martinez vetoed one section that would have spelled out the higher salaries for judges. The governor left intact another budget provision that allocated part of the money needed for the raises.
Two Democratic legislators and a group representing judges contended the governor's partial veto was unconstitutional. They said the governor wiped out only part of the raise and judges are still entitled to a 5 percent salary increase.