Courts

Governor Vetos SB 176

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed Senate Bill 176 – General Appropriations for three judicial branches.

The bill contained money for the New Mexico Supreme Court, the 2nd Judicial District and the 12th Judical District in Alamogodo.

Following the governor’s veto of SB176, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth released the following statement:

“Governor Martinez’ reckless veto tonight will close courts and hurt New Mexico families. As a result of her action, juries will not be funded, criminal cases will be dismissed, and some criminals will walk free.

The Legislature has lots Read More

NM Senate Votes To Appropriate Funds To Help Ensure Courts Can Meet Constitutional Obligations

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Richard Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, the Senate voted to appropriate funding needed to prevent judicial court closures and to ensure that New Mexico court system can meet its constitutional obligations.

The appropriation contained in SB 176  helps alleviate the financial strains felt by the state’s judicial system by appropriating money essential for the operation of the New Mexico Supreme Court, Second Judicial District Court, and the Twelfth Judicial District Court. Already the Second Judicial District Court, the state’s largest district, Read More

AG Balderas Sues Takata And 15 Automakers Over Airbags That Function As Fragmentation Grenades

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Photos of airbags that function as fragmentation grenades. Courtesy/AG

STATE News:

  • To date, known Takata airbag IR incidents have injured more than 180 people and killed at least 11 in the United States alone

SANTA FE – Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that he filed a lawsuit this week against Japanese airbag manufacturer Takata and 15 automakers over dangerous and defective airbags that function as fragmentation grenades.

Hundreds of thousands of which were installed in cars sold or offered for sale in the State of New Mexico. The lawsuit was filed in the First Read More

Public Notice: Los Alamos Daily Post Selected ‘Official Newspaper Of Record’ For Los Alamos County

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LOS ALAMOS COUNTY PUBLIC NOTICE:

After completing a competitive solicitation process, Los Alamos County has entered into a contract with the Los Alamos Daily Post to be its official newspaper of record for notices lawfully required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation.

Examples of such notices include publications regarding elections by the County Clerk, Procurement solicitation notices, or planning and zoning notices from the Community Development Department.

Legal notices will run in the Thursday print edition of the Post, which is mailed free of charge to every household Read More

NM Justice System Failing Due To Inadequate Funding

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NM SUPREME COURT News:
 
SANTA FE ― Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles W. Daniels told lawmakers Thursday that a lack of funding has damaged New Mexico’s justice system and potentially could cause the dismissal of criminal cases if courts are unable to provide speedy trials as constitutionally required.
 
“I wish I could tell you that New Mexico is providing the functioning justice system promised in the constitution that created ground rules of our government, but I can’t,” Daniels said in a State of the Judiciary speech to a joint session of the Legislature. “The failure
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Los Alamos Magistrate Court Closed Beginning At Noon Thursday Until 8 a.m. Jan. 3

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MAGISTRATE COURT News:
 
Due to a staff shortage, the Los Alamos Magistrate Court will be closed noon Thursday, Dec. 22, until 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3.
 
The court apologizes for the inconvenience and advises that anyone who has a court date set during that time or has a payment due, should contact the court after Jan. 3, to set up arrangement’s.
 
First Judicial District Court also will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. District court will be open in Santa Fe and Tierra Amarilla on those dates. District Court in Los Alamos will be open for business Wednesday, Jan. 4. District
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FBI: Navajo Man Gets 17.5 Years In Federal Prison

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FBI News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Ferguson Pierce, 52, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Farmington was sentenced Friday morning in federal court in Santa Fe to 210 months in prison followed by10 years of supervised release for his conviction on an aggravated sexual abuse charge.
 
Pierce also will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.
 
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division and Director Jesse Delmar of the Navajo Nation
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Senators Call On Trump Education Secretary Nominee DeVos To Pay $5.3 Million In Election Violation Fines

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced Tuesday that they are calling on President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, to ensure payment of the $5.3 million in fines and penalties owed by DeVos’ All Children Matter Political Action Committee (PAC) for campaign finance violations dating back to 2008.
 
All Children Matter broke Ohio election law by illegally funneling $870,000
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AG Files Suit Against New Mexico Businessman Accused Of Deceiving Low-Income Home Buyers

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New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is suing a businessman fro deceptive seller-financed home sales in Albuquerque. Courtesy photo
 
STATE News:
 
A New Mexico businessman claimed to help low-income Spanish-speaking families by finding them foreclosed homes to buy and, in some cases, financing the deals.
 
But the state’s attorney general said Wednesday that Jesus Cano of Albuquerque deceived dozens of consumers by misrepresenting the conditions of the often poorly maintained homes he sold. Sometimes Cano sold houses he did not even own, the attorney general
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Albuquerque Man Charged With Using Explosive Device To Damage Or Destroy Building

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FBI News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― David A. Hickman, 28, of Albuquerque has been charged with using an explosive device to damage or destroy a building – the Old Navy store in the Pavilions at San Mateo shopping center in Albuquerque – used in interstate commerce.
 
The charge against Hickman was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Chief Gorden E. Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque
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