State court officials say they are running out of money to pay New Mexico jurors.
KRQE-TV reports that Arthur Pepin, director of the state's Administrative Office of the Courts, says he will ask the New Mexico Board of Finance on Tuesday for emergency funds.
Pepin says the fund that pays juries will fall behind for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, without $463,000 to boost it.
Jurors in New Mexico currently earn $6.25 an hour.
Pepin says the courts may have to resort to writing IOUs to jurors until July.
State lawmakers earmarked $600,000 for paying jurors and court interpreters for this year.
Pepin says there has been a higher demand than expected for jurors.
Payment for jurors has been a frequent concern during the recent recession.
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