Courts

Dabney: Celebrate Without Legal Trouble … Don’t Drink And Drive

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By Attorney PHILIP J. DABNEY
Reid Griffith Law Firm

The holiday season brings many causes for celebration. Celebration often includes partaking in alcohol. While most will drink responsibly, even light drinkers need to take all possible measures to avoid operating a vehicle after drinking. 

When my Grandpa Dabney was young, he got drunk one night and drove his car into a tree. He wrecked the car but somehow avoided injury or arrest. Being a smart man, though, he realized the dangers of drinking and drivIng. So he quit driving. Permanently. Seriously! 

I’m not advocating such Read More

Public Hearing On Judiciary Proposed Policy For Online Access To Court Records Dec. 6

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NM SUPREME COURT News:

Attorneys and their staff, the press, and justice partners, including law enforcement and child welfare agencies, could be granted online access to electronic records in court case files under a proposal before the New Mexico Judiciary.

If adopted by the New Mexico Supreme Court, the proposal would permit approved users to view public records from their computer terminals 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a restricted access system operated by the Judicial Information Division.

Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposal at a public hearing 9 a.m. Read More

Alternative Dispute Resolution Awards Announced

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Members of the 2016 ADR Excellence Award-Metro Court Mediation Division. Courtesy photo
 
NMSC News:
 
The New Mexico Supreme Court’s Statewide Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission has is pleased to announce the recipients of an annual award recognizing achievement in court-connected dispute resolution services.  
 
The Metropolitan Court’s Mediation Division was honored for its 30 years of public service at a celebration held last month in Albuquerque. Susan Barnes-Anderson, Mediation Division program director, accepted the 2016 Excellence
Read More

Water Right Owners Flood Town Hall In Pojoaque

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Several hundred water right owners gather Monday at a town hall meeting in Pojoaque on the Aamodt Water Settlement organized by State Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Nambe). Courtesy photo

Staff Report

Pojoaque – Monday, Nov. 14, several hundred water right owners attended a town hall meeting on the Aamodt Water Settlement meeting organized by State Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Nambe). 

The Aamodt Settlement, which was originally filed in Federal Court in 1966 to settle all water claims in the Nambe-Pojoaque-Tesuque Basin (NPT Basin) for both pueblo and non-pueblo people, is now nearing a final conclusion Read More

AG Balderas Announces $32 Million Judgment Against FastBucks To Benefit New Mexico Consumers

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AG Office News:
 
SANTA FE ― This morning, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that a district court judge ruled New Mexicans should receive upwards of $32 million from FastBucks for their unfair and unconscionable business practices.
 
First Judicial District Judge Francis J. Mathew ruled that FastBucks should pay the sum of $32,255,054 in restitution to the consumer borrowers who were taken advantage of by FastBucks’ business practices.
 
The suit was brought by the Office of the Attorney General for violations of New Mexico law. This judgment is the
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Letter To The Editor: Clarifying Same Sex Marriage License Litigation Case

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By BECKY EHLER
Former County Attorney

I would like to clarify the cost and the position of the Los Alamos County Clerk during the same sex marriage license litigation case.

First, Los Alamos County did not expend any funds for representing the Clerk, Sharon Stover in the litigation. The entire Los Alamos County case was handled by the County’s in-house legal
staff. Likewise, Los Alamos County did not pay any of the cost of the Supreme Court case where the issue was decided for the entire state.

Second, the response to the temporary order did not indicate that Ms. Stover opposed same sex marriage. Read More

Nobile: Why Am I Running For Probate Judge?

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By Anne Nobile
Candidate for Probate Judge

Last winter I became aware there would be an opportunity to continue being of service to Los Alamos County in a capacity I would enjoy. With the encouragement of longtime friends and fellow volunteers, I soon applied.

I was appointed by the County Council June 21 for a term lasting until Dec. 31.

My letter of interest reviewed my experience as a paralegal, applying government regulations, such as OSHA and ANSI, in my job at the Lab and volunteering as a Planning & Zoning Commissioner for six years. I described additional volunteer work such as 13 years Read More

Chicoine: We Need A DA Who Will Enforce The Law

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By YVONNE CHICOINE
GOP Candidate for District Attorney

I am seeking election as your District Attorney because I believe the people of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties deserve a District Attorney who is committed to restoring respect for the rule of law. 

We need change.  We need a District Attorney who makes clear that criminal conduct is unacceptable, and who is willing and unafraid to hold lawbreakers accountable.

Accountability means an end to revolving door justice. It means greater safety and security for all of us. Accountability makes second chances possible. Read More

Letter To The Editor: Endorsement Of Anne Nobile For County Probate Judge

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By ROBERT WELLS
Los Alamos

I enthusiastically support Anne Nobile for County Probate Judge. I have known Anne for a number of years and worked with her on behalf of Los Alamos schools issues; e.g., support of Jody Benson for the School Board, which was a successful endeavor. Anne’s credibility for serving this judicial position is reflected in her having been appointed Probate Judge by our bipartisan County Council. Having served as the County’s probate judge, she knows the job – and will faithfully continue to do the job needed and expected by County citizens.

In addition to my endorsement Read More

Status Hearing On AFTNM-ATF Lawsuit Monday

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