A judge has recommended a state board dismiss appeals by 20 former employees of the New Mexico Attorney General's Office seeking to get their jobs back.
An administrative law judge recently ruled Attorney General Hector Balderas had the authority to fire the workers and recommended that the State Personnel Office allow the firings to stand.
Balderas fired the workers when he took office last January.
Twenty of them appealed their terminations to the State Personnel Board, arguing the State Personnel Act protects their positions.
The board will decide whether to accept or reject the judge's recommendation at an Aug. 6 meeting.
Balderas says he expects the State Personnel Board to uphold the recommendation.
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