State AG's office creates new unit

The New Mexico's Attorney General's office has created a new unit aimed at addressing challenges to homicide and sexual assault convictions. 

The office said Tuesday that the new Just Conviction & Exoneration Unit was created last month and will look at cases where DNA evidence could possibly overturn convictions like 1st degree murder. 

Margaret McLean, who heads the new unit, says Attorney General Gary King has received a number of inquiries about DNA testing in connection to appeals of some convictions. She says the unit will help the office handle inquiries from 13 state judicial districts. McLean says there are less than 10 cases pending that are seeking to use new DNA technology.

State AG's office creates new unit