Courts

State Ethics Commission Seeks Court Ruling To Enforce New Mexico Privacy Law

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NMSEC News:

The New Mexico State Ethics Commission filed a complaint in the First Judicial District Court seeking a declaratory judgment that confirms the Commission’s authority to enforce the Nondisclosure of Sensitive Personal Information Act (“NSPIA”), a statute enacted by the Legislature in 2025 to safeguard personal data held by New Mexico state agencies.

NSPIA prohibits state employees from intentionally disclosing sensitive personal information acquired through state employment, subject to limited statutory exceptions. The law authorizes the Commission to bring civil Read More

FBI: Shiprock Man Indicted On Federal Charges Of Assault And Kidnapping Of Minors … Faces Up To Life In Prison

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Keanu Lee booking photo

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Shiprock man has been indicted on federal charges in connection with the sexual assault and kidnapping of two victims in Indian Country.

According to court documents, between June 2024 and Feb. 2025, Keanu Lee, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, forcibly sexually assaulted a minor identified as Jane Doe 1. Lee is further accused of kidnapping Jane Doe 1 and assaulting her, causing serious bodily injury.

The indictment also alleges that between 2012 and 2014, Lee sexually assaulted a second minor victim, identified as Jane Doe 2.

Lee Read More

Judicial Compensation Commission Meets Sept. 16

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NMJCC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Judicial Compensation Commission will meet virtually at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16, to consider recommendations to the 2026 Legislature for possible compensation changes for state court judges.

The meeting will be live streamed on the New Mexico Courts YouTube channel and conducted virtually on the Google Meet platform.

The online meeting will include a public comment period. Any person wishing to make comments must join the meeting using the Google Meet platform. It is not possible to make comments when viewing the livestream on YouTube. Click here to Read More

New Court Program Offers Help To Newly Arrested People Struggling With Mental Illness

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Left to right: Supreme Court Justice Briana H. Zamora, Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson, First Judicial District Chief Judge Brian Biedscheid. Courtesy photo

COURT News: 

SANTA FE — The First Judicial District Court announced a program today to help newly arrested people with severe mental illness obtain treatment and other community services. Individuals charged with misdemeanors, except DWI, and nonviolent felony offenses are eligible for the program.

The initiative is the fourth competency diversion pilot program established by New Mexico courts since last year.

“The Read More

New Mexico State Bar Foundation’s Legal Resources For The Elderly Program To Host Free Virtual Legal Webinar Sept. 9

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NMSBF News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico State Bar Foundation’s Legal Resources for the Elderly Program (“LREP”) will be hosting a free virtual legal webinar starting at 11 a.m., Sept. 9. This webinar will cover Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, probate, non-probate transfers (including Transfer on Death Deeds) and Institutional Medicaid.

New Mexico residents can register for this free webinar online at https://bit.ly/LREP-Sept-9 or by calling 505-797-6005 and providing their first and last name and email address. After registering, they will receive a confirmation Read More

Flooding Recovery Event In Ruidoso Offers Free Legal Assistance And Donations Of Supplies

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Part of the donations from state court personnel for a flooding recovery event on Saturday in Ruidoso. Courtesy/Twelfth Judicial District Court

Chief Justice David K. Thomson. Courtesy/New Mexico Supreme Court

NMSC News:

RUIDOSO – People recovering from recent flooding in Ruidoso can receive free legal help on Saturday and pick up donated goods ranging from clothing and nonperishable food to school and cleaning supplies.

The legal fair and relief effort will occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Branch Community College at 709 Mechem Drive in Ruidoso. Read More

FBI: Vanderwagen Man Gets 85 Months In Prison For Firing Rifle During Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Vanderwagon man was sentenced to 85 months in prison for using a firearm to threaten and assault another individual.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on May 1, 2023, Perris Jeremiah Arthur, 36, confronted the victim at his residence on the Navajo Nation. After starting a physical altercation, Arthur retrieved a .22 caliber rifle from his ATV, fired two rounds into the residence, and later pointed the weapon directly at the victim, threatening to cause serious harm. Fortunately, the victim was not injured during the altercation. Read More

New Mexico And Texas Reach Settlement Agreements In Decade-Long Rio Grande Water Dispute

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U.S. SUPREME COURT News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico, Texas, Colorado and the United States today filed a package of settlement agreements with the Special Master in the U.S. Supreme Court case Texas v New Mexico and Colorado and requested dismissal of the case.

The agreements, drafted with participation from relevant irrigation districts in New Mexico and Texas, resolve over a decade of interstate litigation and allow the states and their water users to move forward in implementing sustainable long-term compliance with the Rio Grande Compact and water resources management practices in the Lower Read More

State Police Checkpoints And Saturation Patrols In Counties Across New Mexico In September 2025

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NMSP News:

Statewide – New Mexico State Police (NMSP) will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols; and registration, insurance, and driver’s license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during September 2025.

NMSP is bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising.

These checkpoints are helping to change society’s attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver Read More

New Mexico State Police Responds To Federal Comments About English Language Proficiency And CDL’s

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Chief Troy Weisler

NMSP News:

SANTA FE—New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Chief Troy Weisler today said federal officials have mischaracterized New Mexico’s Commercial Driver’s License policy and compliance with federal law related to English Language Proficiency (ELP) testing.

The chief’s comments are in response to questions surrounding a July 3, 2025, traffic stop in which an NMSP officer cited commercial truck driver Harjinder Singh for a speeding violation. Singh was later involved in a high-profile crash in Florida that left three dead.

On June 25, 2025, new federal guidelines regarding Read More