ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The New Mexico Supreme Court has been asked to review an anti-corruption law used to charge four public officials.

Attorney General Hector Balderas has appealed or filed notice to appeal four cases involving wrongdoing by state and county officials in which district courts dismissed charges linked to the state Governmental Conduct Act, KRQE-TV reported Thursday.

A section of the law prohibits public employees from using their offices for their benefit.

District court judges in each of the four cases dismissed related charges, saying the law is too vague or is not intended for criminal charges. One judge said the law only sets ethical goals that public employees should strive to meet.

There are a lot of questions on the constitutionality of the Governmental Conduct Act, said Peter Kierst, a constitutional law expert who teaches at the University of New Mexico.

“A vague statute opens up the door to selective enforcement and an unequal application of the law, which goes right at one of the fundamental principles of our law - which is the law ought to equally apply to everybody,” Kierst said.

The state Court of Appeals has deferred the matter to the higher court, which has not announced if it will accept the case.

“Recent court rulings have weakened New Mexico’s government corruption laws, and the Office of the Attorney General looks forward to arguing for increased protections in the Supreme Court,” attorney general’s office spokesman Matt Baca said in a statement.

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Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com

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