A panel of judges, lawyers and legal experts is recommending that New Mexico's highest court support a constitutional amendment to allow judges to order the most dangerous, violent criminal defendants held in jail pending trial without bond.
The committee voted during a meeting Thursday in Albuquerque to send a letter outlining its recommendation to the state Supreme Court.
The chairman of the committee, former University of New Mexico Law School Dean Leo Romero, acknowledged this is only the first step and such a proposal would have to be approved by the Legislature and considered by the voters.
The court formed the panel earlier this year and charged it with submitting a report and recommendations regarding the use of bail schedules in New Mexico by the end of August.
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