Courts

Whistleblower Anthony T. Rivera Sues LLNL

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Anthony T. Rivera

LLNL News:

Anthony T. Rivera, an award-winning senior engineer who blew the whistle on safety violations at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, sued the lab Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.    

His suit seeks $5 million in damages – and a court order reforming U.S. Department of Energy practices.

Rivera, a 29-year employee with LLNL, charges Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC is liable for wrongful termination in violation of public policy because managers fired him after he disclosed safety violations in the lab’s high Read More

NMED To Sue U.S. EPA For Massive Waste Spill

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NMED Cabinet Secretary Ryan Flynn

NMED News:

 SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department has announced its intention to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—along with the State of Colorado and the owners of the Gold King and Sunnyside Mines—to address the environmental impacts resulting from the 2015 massive waste spill in the Animas River that EPA officials admitted to causing.

 In August of last year, the EPA caused a release of three million gallons of toxic mine waste into the Animas and San Juan Rivers, depositing toxins on the riverbed, agricultural lands, Read More

Op-Ed: Why New Mexico Needs Bail Reform

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Justice Charles W. Daniels
 
By Justice Charles W. Daniels
New Mexico Supreme Court

On recommendation of the New Mexico Supreme Court, a bipartisan group of legislators has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would allow voters to decide whether to reform antiquated bail provisions in our state constitution. Currently, the constitution guarantees the right to get out of jail before trial for virtually all defendants, no matter how dangerous, if they can get their hands on enough money to post bond or if they can make payment arrangements with a bail bondsman.

As we have seen all Read More

FBI: Zuni Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Murder

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FBI News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Dusty Lee Chavez, 23, a member and resident of Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico pled guilty Tuesday in federal court in Albuquerque, to a second degree murder charge. 
 
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Chavez will be sentenced within the range of 228 to 276 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
 
Chavez and his co-defendant Douglas Burt, 19, also a member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, were arrested in November 2014, on a criminal complaint charging them with murdering a man Oct. 28,
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Los Alamos County Probate Judge Vacancy: Council Calls For Letters Of Interest

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Christine Chandler was appointed Los Alamos County Probate Judge in August 2013. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Councilors responded during last night’s meeting to the resignation of Probate Judge Christine Chandler.

Chandler wrote in a letter dated Dec. 30 to then-Council Chair Kristin Henderson that her resignation will be effective Feb. 20, 2016. Chandler was appointed to the position in 2013 and ran for re-election successfully in the general election in November 2014.

Chandler cited “other current and prospective commitments” in her letter Read More

Governor Appoints Jennifer Padgett District Attorney In First Judicial District

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Jennifer Padgett

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced the appointment of Jennifer Padgett of Santa Fe as the district attorney for the First Judicial District to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Angela “Spence” Pacheco.

“Jennifer Padgett has devoted her career to fighting for children and she has what it takes to build on Spence’s success as district attorney,” Martinez said. “She has demonstrated tremendous management abilities and will aggressively strive to protect citizens and fight for victims in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties.”  Read More

AFTNM And NEANM Reacts To Court Decision On Motion To Combine Hearings

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AFT News:
 
SANTA FE ― American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly and National Education Association New Mexico President Betty Patterson released the following joint statement:
 
“We agree with Judge Mathew’s ruling against the most recent motion by the Public Education Department, which was to combine our organizations’ unique lawsuits against the educator evaluation policies of Secretary Skandera and Governor Martinez.
 
“We believe that each of our cases have merit and that the continued attempts of the PED to stall this process
Read More

Closing New Mexico’s Child Pornography & Exploitation Loophole: Representatives Pre-File Legislation

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Representatives Sarah Maestas Barnes, R-Bernalillo, Javier Martinez, D-Bernalillo and Randal Crowder, R-Curry have pre-filed legislation backed by Attorney General Hector Balderas to close New Mexico’s child pornography and exploitation loophole. 
 
The current law limits the ability of prosecutors to charge defendants who possess multiple images of children being raped, objectified, and exploited in multiple forms of media and online.
Currently, these child predators are only subject to prosecution of one count of child exploitation
Read More

Attorney General On Dianna Duran’s Sentencing

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas released the following statement regarding former Secretary of State Dianna Duran’s sentencing hearing:

“The swift adjudication of this matter rectifies the public harm done by the criminal conduct of Ms. Duran and saved tremendous taxpayer impeachment resources. The Office of the Attorney General thoroughly investigated the case, which resulted in felony convictions and jail time. With this matter coming to a close, this Office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute Read More

County Personnel Board Upholds Termination Of Former Los Alamos Police Sgt. Jordan Redmond

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Attorney Tony Ortiz with the four members of the Personnel Board began hearing testimony at 9 a.m. and went into closed session at 3 p.m. Monday to deliberate. The court reporter looks on at right. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
During Monday’s County Personnel Board hearing, former LAPD Sgt. Jordan Redmond lost his appeal to get his job back. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
Following nearly six hours of testimony and 90 minutes of deliberation Monday, the Los Alamos County Personnel Board voted to uphold
Read More