Courts

FBI: Mescalero Apache Man Gets 22 Years For Abuse

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – David Joe Melendrez, 56, of Mescalero and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque Thursday to 22 years in prison for abusive sexual contact.

In the plea agreement, Melendrez acknowledged sexually abusing multiple children, ranging in age from seven to 14, over the course of several years.

The abuse took place on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation and all of the victims were members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. 

Upon his release from prison, Melendrez will be subject to 10 years of supervised release.

The Read More

USDA: Resolution On Mexican Spotted Owl Litigation Moves Forest Restoration Forward

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A pair of Mexican spotted owls. Courtesy/USFS

USDA News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and WildEarth Guardians reached an out-of-court resolution Tuesday in the case WildEarth Guardians vs. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, et al. CV-13-00151-TUC-RCC in U.S. District Court in Arizona concerning the Mexican spotted owl.

Per the resolution, the parties have jointly filed for dismissal of the associated injunction with the Court.

Once the Judge approves the motion, the injunction that has limited certain timber Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Invites Citizens To Serve On Newly Created Commission On Equity And Justice

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court invites New Mexicans to apply to serve on a newly created Commission on Equity and Justice.

The Commission will study issues related to bias and inequities in the state’s justice system and promote diversity among judges and judicial employees. 

An order issued on Monday formally established the Commission on Equity and Justice as a permanent standing commission of the Supreme Court and outlined the framework of its voting and non-voting membership. Click here to view the order.

The Court earlier this year formed a steering committee, chaired by Read More

Vigilante Leader Sentenced In Las Cruces To 21 Months In Prison For Impersonating A Border Patrol Agent

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — James Christopher Benvie, 45, was sentenced Oct. 15 to 21 months in prison in Las Cruces on two counts of false personation of a Border Patrol agent.

A federal jury previously returned a guilty verdict March 3 toward Benvie. According to public court records and evidence at trial, Benvie was a leader and spokesperson for a group of vigilantes who established a “camp” at the Southwest border in Doña Ana County.

Many members of the group wore badges, camouflage and other military-style clothing, often covered their faces with masks, and carried pistols and assault rifles. Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Approves Pretrial Detention Rule Changes To Enhance Public Safety

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SUPREME COURT News: 

SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court has approved changes in New Mexico’s pretrial justice system to enhance public safety.

The Court issued orders last week to revise procedural rules governing when a person charged with a felony can be held in jail before trial. The rule amendments take effect for cases pending or filed on or after Nov. 23.

“As confirmed by independent evaluations, New Mexicans are safer today because of pretrial justice reforms implemented by the state Supreme Court in the past four years. Newly approved rule changes strengthen the reforms and further protect Read More

New Mexico Judiciary’s Chief Technology Officer Dick Wilkinson Honored By Albuquerque Business First’s ‘40 Under 40’

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Dick Wilkinson

NMSC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Judiciary’s Chief Technology Officer, Dick Wilkinson, was recently honored as one of Albuquerque Business First’s “40 Under 40”, a yearly award given for professional achievement, contributions to the community and leadership skills.

“The Administrative Office of the Courts is so proud of Dick Wilkinson’s recognition by Albuquerque Business First as one of their “40 Under 40” this year,” Director Artie Pepin said. “Dick is highly professional and highly valued by the AOC.  He is respected and appreciated by judges and court Read More

JPEC: Your Vote Shapes Our Judiciary

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By DENISE TORRES
 and JAMES HALL
New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), may have said it best: “Democracy is not a spectator sport”.

This fall, you can have a voice in shaping New Mexico’s judiciary by voting whether or not to retain one New Mexico Court of Appeals judge and seven district court judges in the First Judicial District, which includes Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties.

In New Mexico, judges must first run in and win a partisan election, whether they have been Read More

Judicial Compensation Commission Meeting Live Streamed On New Mexico Courts YouTube Page Wednesday

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The Judicial Compensation Commission will hold an online meeting next week to consider possible recommendations to the 2021 Legislature concerning judicial salaries.

The meeting will be live streamed on the New Mexico Courts YouTube page, at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The independent six-member commission is required by state law to annually recommend a judicial pay plan to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Department of Finance and Administration.

The commission is chaired by Sergio Pareja, dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law. Other members Read More

WildEarth Guardians File Lawsuit Over Antiquated Federal Wildlife Killing Program In New Mexico

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WEG News:

SANTA FE — WildEarth Guardians sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Wildlife Services” over its outdated wildlife-killing program in New Mexico.

The program—formerly called “Animal Damage Control”—relies on scientific studies and data from the 1970s and 80s and has never prepared an Environmental Impact Statement for its activities in New Mexico.

Last year, Wildlife Services killed over 1.2 million native animals across the U.S. In New Mexico nearly 10,000 animals were killed in 2019, mostly native mammals and birds. Preferred methods include leghold traps, strangulation Read More

Los Alamos Magistrate Judge Pat Casados Re-Elected President Of New Mexico Magistrate Judges Association

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Magistrate Judge Pat Casados re-elected president of New Mexico Magistrate Judges Association. LADP file photo

COURT News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Magistrate Judges Association has elected new officers and board members to serve one-year terms.

Los Alamos County Magistrate Judge Pat A. Casados was re-elected president, an office she has held for the past four years.

Lea County Magistrate Court Judge David Finger, Lovington, was selected vice president; Lincoln County Magistrate Judge Katie Lund, Ruidoso, secretary/treasurer and retired Torrance County Magistrate Judge Steve Jones, Read More