Judge: Supervisor needed for HSD

An attorney for the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty in Albuquerque says a federal judge in Las Cruces is in agreement that a court-appointed supervisor is needed to help ensure federally funded benefits are administered properly by the New Mexico Human Services Department.

Attorney Sovereign Hager says U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales indicated Thursday he will move forward with the recommendation for a “special master” to help oversee the administration of food aid and Medicaid benefits by the state agency. The Human Services Department previously agreed to that component of a July recommendation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Carmen Garza.

Gonzales is still weighing a recommendation that Human Services Secretary Brent Earnest be held in contempt over failures by his agency to comply on time with court orders concerning benefits.