Courts

Sen. Martinez Steps Down From Leadership Roles

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Sen. Richard Martinez

 

SENATE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE  – In a letter to New Mexico Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, Sen. Richard Martinez (D–Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Santa Fe) resigned Friday from his positions as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Courts, Corrections & Justice Interim Committee.

In the letter, Sen. Martinez stated “After extensive thought and consideration and given my recent DWI conviction, I have decided to resign my position as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Read More

Rep. Miguel P. García Seeks AG Opinion On Federal Jurisdiction Of Tri-State Generation And Transmission

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State Rep. Miguel P. García

 

STATE News:

 

ALBUQUERQUE ― State Rep. Miguel P. García (D-Atrisco) has taken his concern to the Attorney General of New Mexico regarding Tri-State’s actions in subjecting themselves to federal jurisdiction under FERC.

 

“I am of the belief that Tri-State’s arbitrary actions to be subject to the jurisdiction of FERC violates the negotiated jurisdiction of the Public Regulatory Commission (PRC) over Tri-State’s rates, the statutory and constitutional rights of New Mexico ratepayers and the constitutional duties of the PRC,” García said.

  Read More

Los Alamos Police Blotter: Dec. 5 To Dec. 18, 2019

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LAPD News:

The following information is provided by the Los Alamos Police Department.

Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.

ADRIAN ZAMORA-CHAVEZ

Dec. 5 at 5:22 p.m. / Police arrested Adrian Zamora-Chavez, 28, of Belen at 2500 Trinity Dr., on an outstanding District Court warrant.

 

 

HEATHER R. DOMINGUEZ

Dec. 9 at 9:33 a.m. / Police arrested Heather R. Dominguez, 36, of Los Alamos on Diamond Drive and charged her with driving on a suspended or revoked license.

 

 

 

MELINDA MADRID Read More

Supreme Court Upholds Convictions Of Albuquerque Man For 2016 Murder Of Wife’s Ex-Husband

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NMSC News:
 
SANTA FE ― The state Supreme Court Monday affirmed the convictions of an Albuquerque man for murdering his wife’s ex-husband in 2016.
 
Terry White was sentenced to life in prison plus 12 years for first-degree murder, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon and evidence tampering. The victim, Don Fluitt, was beaten and stabbed to death after returning home from dropping off his daughter in a custody exchange with his ex-wife.
 
The Court unanimously concluded there was sufficient evidence to support White’s convictions. The justices also found that the trial
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Attorney General William Barr Announces Launch Of Operation Relentless Pursuit Targeting Violent Crime

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Attorney General William P. Barr
 
AG News:
 
DETROIT, MI — U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr announced Wednesday the launch of Operation Relentless Pursuit, an initiative aimed at combating violent crime in seven of America’s most violent cities, including Albuquerque, through a surge in federal resources.
 
Joined at a press conference in Detroit by DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon, ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray and United States Marshals Service Director Donald W. Washington, Barr pledged to intensify federal law
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New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas Joins Multistate Effort To Protect Rights Of Asylum-Seekers

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Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
SANTA FE — Attorney General Hector Balderas Thursday joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a comment letter to protect the rights of asylum-seekers.
 
Under a new interim final rule, the Trump Administration is effectively attempting to ignore asylum claims by sending people, many of whom are fleeing violence and persecution, to third countries that have signed asylum cooperative agreements with the federal government. The rule, which went into immediate effect, will block states from welcoming asylum-seekers
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New Mexico Environmental Law Center Attorney Eric Jantz Named 2019 Lawyer Of The Year

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2019 Lawyer of the Year Eric Jantz outside State District Court with Multi-Cultural Alliance for a Safe Environment Laura Watchempino of Acoma Pueblo and Candice Head-Dylla of Bluewater Valley Downstream Alliance. Courtesy photo

LAW CENTER News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Staff Attorney Eric Jantz for the nonprofit New Mexico Environmental Law Center (Law Center), is being honored by the Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law section of the New Mexico Bar Association as Lawyer of the Year.

Jantz has been with the Law Center for 18 years and focuses much of his efforts on uranium mining impacts Read More

Udall, Heinrich: Judge Kea Riggs Confirmed By Senate To Fill Vacancy On U.S. District Court For New Mexico

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Judge Kea Whetzal Riggs
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced Thursday that the full Senate has confirmed Judge Kea Whetzal Riggs, by a vote of 94-0, to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
 
Udall and Heinrich issued the following joint statement:
 
“We are pleased to congratulate Judge Riggs on her Senate confirmation, and we are glad that this vacancy will be filled. Judge Riggs has a long record of distinguished service and is well qualified for this seat. We will
Read More

Attorney General Balderas Files Brief Defending Rights Of Indigenous Children, Families And Tribes

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

 
SANTA FE — Attorney General Hector Balderas Wednesday joined a bipartisan coalition of 27 attorneys general, led by California, in filing an amicus brief before the full U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to defend the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in Brackeen v. Bernhardt.
 
In the brief, the coalition urges the appellate court to uphold ICWA and affirm the decision of a three-judge appellate panel. ICWA is a 41-year-old federal law that furthers the best interests of Indigenous children and protects
Read More

Governor, Legislative Leaders Petition Supreme Court For Emergency Review Of Energy Law

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and legislative sponsors of the 2019 Energy Transition Act petitioned Monday afternoon the New Mexico Supreme Court for an emergency review, asking the Court to direct the Public Regulation Commission to apply the 2019 Energy Transition Act in cases filed after the ETA’s enactment.
 
New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf, Sen. Jacob Candelaria, Sen. Mimi Stewart and Rep. Nathan Small were ETA co-sponsors and joined Monday’s petition; President Nez joined
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