Courts

Emergency Funding For Magistrate Courts Denied

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COURT News:

 

SANTA FE – Administrative Office of the Courts Director Artie Pepin expressed disappointment Friday that the state Board of Finance denied a request for emergency funding of $750,000 for magistrate court operations in the final weeks of the current budget year.

 

AOC sought the emergency funding because magistrate courts do not have enough money to cover operating expenses through June after the governor vetoed a $750,000 supplemental appropriation approved by the Legislature. Lawmakers approved the money to address underfunding partly caused by a loss Read More

Director To Request $750,000 In Emergency Funding For Operations Of Magistrate Courts Through June

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Scales of Justice. Courtesy image

COURT News:

Administrative Office of the Courts Director Artie Pepin will appear before the state Board of Finance Thursday to request emergency funding of $750,000 for operations of magistrate courts through June.

In April, the governor vetoed a $750,000 supplemental appropriation approved by the Legislature to address underfunding partly caused by a loss of revenues from vetoes in 2014.

Without the requested $750,000 emergency grant, according to Pepin, the AOC will not pay leases on court buildings for June and state insurance premiums. Those steps Read More

Los Alamos Magistrate Court Docket May 11-26

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COURT News:
 
The following is the upcoming docket for Los Alamos County Magistrate Court:
 
Monday, May 11:
 
Judge: Pat A. Casados – Location: Los Alamos County Magistrate Court
 
8:15 a.m.
M-33-FR-2015-00032 
Defendant: Arturo Houston
Proceeding: First Appearance
Prosecutor:  NM District Attorney – 1st Santa Fe; Def Atty:; Officer: Ryan Wolking
 
8:30 a.m.
M-33-DR-2014-00029
Defendant: Melissa V. Valdez-Romero
Proceeding: Jury Trial
Prosecutor: Kent Wahlquist; Def Atty: Thomas M. Clark; Officer: David
Read More

Council Tentatively Approves Municipal Court Budget

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Los Alamos Municipal Judge Alan Kirk answers questions from Council on his proposed FY-2016 budget, which he reduced by 6 percent from his adopted FY2015 budget. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Municipal Judge Alan Kirk at the podium speaking with Council as County officials, staff and a few members of the public listen. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

Los Alamos County Council voted 7-0 this evening to tentitively approve the proposed FY-2016 budget for the Los Alamos Municipal Court.

The Municipal Court makes up 1 percent of the general fund. Its Read More

Los Alamos Federated Republican Women Meet At Justice Center Noon Wednesday

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LAFRW News:

The April meeting of the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women (LAFRW) is set for noon, Wednesday at Ashly Pond, for an abbreviated business meeting.

When the business meeting is concluded, The group will then tour the Justice Center and Municipal Judge Alan Kirk will present a talk about his responsibilities as judge and an overview of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, for which he is a co-founder and chairman. 

LAFRW will hold its business meeting first in conference room at the Justice Center. Members are asked to bring canned goods and staples to donate to a women’s Read More

Critical Funding Vetoed For Magistrate Courts

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Courtesy/NM Courts

 

NM COURTS News:

 

SANTA FE – Artie Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, issued the following statement about court funding in HB2:

 

As for the overall budget, Pepin said: “The courts will receive a modest budget increase next year that is essential for fulfilling our responsibility to provide fair and timely justice for New Mexico’s citizens.”

 

“The Judiciary appreciates that the Governor agreed to state budget provisions that will provide a total increase of $627,700 next year for treatment services for drug courts statewide. Read More

Judge Sentences Stephen M. Geisik Of Los Alamos To 364 Days In Jail In Child Molestation Case

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Staff Report

Judge Mary Marlowe-Sommer orders convicted child molester Stephen M. Geisik of Los Alamos to serve 364 days in the Los Alamos County Jail.

Geisik, 23, was facing more than 30 years in prison for his April 2012 charge of criminal sexual penetration of a child less than 13 years of age. Los Alamos police also charged Geisik, who was 21 years old at the time, with contributing to the delinquency of a child.

The judge sentenced Geisik for these crimes during a District Court hearing Monday at the Justice Center in Los Alamos.

“He was facing 3 years to 31.5 years,” Prosecuting Read More

AG Announces Completion of Internal Review Of Pending Litigation Involving Outside Counsel

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

STATE News:

  • AG confident that pending cases can move forward as meritorious

SANTA FE — Today New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced the completion of an office-wide review of all pending litigation involving outside counsel.

Moving forward, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is committed to utilizing a set of best practices to ensure the Office takes on only meritorious cases that are in the best interest of New Mexicans, as stated in today’s news release.

“As Attorney General, I am committed to operating an open and transparent Read More

CASA: Make A Difference – Be A Child’s Voice

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CASA News:
 
CASA is an organization that recruits and trains community volunteers to be strong advocates for children who have been abused.
 
Our advocates are the “eyes and ears” of the Court and report to the Judge as to the wellbeing of the children they are assigned to. Our volunteers make a difference in the lives of children who’ve been hurt and need a caring and trustworthy adult in their lives.
 
We are looking for individuals who are passionate about advocating for children, who can be objective and report the facts to the Court, and who can work as part of a team of professionals
Read More

Electronic Payments Allowed For Court Fines, Fees

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COURT News:

SANTA FE – State courts have launched a new system allowing online payments of traffic tickets as well as fines and fees owed in criminal cases in magistrate courts and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

Payments can be made from the following court website using a credit card or debit card: https://publicaccess.nmcourts.gov/.

“Our courts are providing a secure, convenient method for paying fines and fees,” said Artie Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. “The electronic payment system saves time and money for the public. A trip to the courthouse Read More