New Mexico to file arguments in court test of Katie’s Law

Gov. Susana Martinez says her administration will file written arguments with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case deciding the validity of laws in New Mexico and about two dozen other states that require DNA testing of criminal suspects.

The nation’s highest court will consider a case from Maryland in determining whether police can collect DNA samples from people arrested for certain crimes.

Martinez said Monday her office will file arguments in support of what’s known as “Katie’s Law” – named in memory of Kathryn Sepich, a New Mexico State University student murdered in 2003. Her killer was identified later with DNA evidence after being convicted of another crime.

New Mexico last year expanded its law to require DNA samples from adults arrested for any felony, rather than certain crimes.