Southeastern New Mexico DA's Office Faces Budget Crisis

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A district attorney's office in southeastern New Mexico is facing a budget crisis and will cut cutting personnel. The Roswell Daily Record reports (http://goo.gl/wtVglp) Fifth Judicial District Court District Attorney Diana Luce said last week her office has asked the Legislature for a 1.5 percent budget increase. The Fifth Judicial District Court covers Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties and includes Roswell. Luce says cases have continued to increase with the office prosecuting 6,595 cases during the last fiscal year. She says that's an increase of 249 cases. Roswell Police Chief Philip Smith says he is disappointed to about the cuts the DA's office is being forced to make. The crisis comes as Democratic state lawmakers and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez fight over details of a looming special session on the state's budget