Pursuant to authority granted by NMSA § 35-14-5, the following procedures shall apply for appointment of the substitute municipal judge:
(A) A substitute judge may be nominated at a regular meeting or special meeting of the governing body of the town by the Mayor or Mayor Pro-Tem;
(B) The appointee shall be confirmed by majority vote of the governing body just as appointed officials normally are confirmed;
(C) In an emergency, a temporary appointment may be made in accordance with established law regarding appointment of temporary officials; and
(D) Any substitute judge appointed hereunder shall be compensated at the same hourly rate as the permanent judge based upon the average time spent at the occupation by the permanent judge. But the compensation shall not exceed the compensation which would have been received by the permanent judge for any period of service. For example, if a substitute judge handles the Municipal Court business for a period of 2 weeks, he or she shall receive a maximum of ½ the monthly salary of the elected Municipal Judge.
(Ord. 556, passed 5-27-1986)