Courts

Farmington Attorney Becomes First Native American District Court Judge In Eleventh Judicial District

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Brenna Clani-Washinawatok

New Mexico Supreme Court News:

AZTEC — Brenna Clani-Washinawatok, a Farmington attorney and enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will be the first Native American to serve as a district court judge in the Eleventh Judicial District of San Juan and McKinley counties.

Clani-Washinawatok will take the oath of office next month. She has served as a child support hearing officer, domestic violence commissioner and domestic relations hearing officer for the district court since 2022. She was appointed to the bench by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to succeed retired Read More

Supreme Court Vacates Taos Woman’s Convictions Because Of Prosecutorial Misconduct

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court today vacated the convictions of a Taos woman for a 2019 killing and prohibited a retrial because of “outrageous prosecutorial misconduct” that included referring to the defendant as a witch.

The Court unanimously concluded that Desiree Lensegrav failed to receive a fair trial and that state constitutional protections against double jeopardy barred a new trial because of the misconduct. Lensegrav was sentenced in 2022 to 45 years in prison before eligibility for parole for her role in the death of Joseph Morgas. 

“In this case of severe and pervasive Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Renews Commitment To Diversity, Equity And Inclusion In The Justice System

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Supreme Court of New Mexico: (from left) Justice Julie J. Vargas, Justice Michael E. Vigil, Chief Justice David K. Thomson, Justice C. Shannon Bacon, and Justice Briana H. Zamora.  Courtesy/Supreme Court

NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court Feb. 18 reaffirmed its commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable justice system in New Mexico.

In an open letter to the public, the Court noted that the words “Dedicated to the Administration of Equal Justice Under Law” are carved in the wood above where justices sit in the courtroom in the Supreme Court Building. 

“For 123 years, these words Read More

Governor Says Crime Package Falls Short, New Mexicans Demand More

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Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos chairs the House Judiciary Committee. She is shown here on the House Floor at the opening of the 60-Day Session, Jan. 21 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

As the state House of Representatives prepares to take up a crime package as early as Saturday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is expressing her support but calling on lawmakers to do more to improve public safety in New Mexico.

The crime package, after all, consists of only six bills.

“I support these bills and appreciate the House’s Read More

New Public Safety Package Mingles Competency And Crime, Drawing Concerns On Both Sides

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By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

What’s the difference between going to trial and taking a plea deal? 

What does the prosecutor do? And who’s that sitting at the head of the courtroom, wearing the black robe? 

These are some of the questions defense attorneys use to gauge a client’s competency — a legal term referring to a defendant’s mental capacity to understand the charges they face and to help in their own defense. 

Second Judicial District Defender Dennica Torres said defense attorneys raise competency concerns when their clients “don’t understand that they’re Read More

NM Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Thomas Clear III

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New Mexico Supreme Court:

The state Supreme Court Tuesday issued an order suspending Albuquerque attorney Thomas Clear III from the practice of law.

Click here to view the order.

Clear on Friday submitted a response to the Court’s previous order to “show cause” why he should not face disciplinary action for his alleged conduct involving DWI cases.

Click here to view the response and the Court’s show cause order.

  Read More

Assistant DA Makes Case In State Vs. William Ryan Skelton

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Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Elizabeth Counce with the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office questions witness Cpl. Michael Weiss on the stand during a preliminary hearing in the case of William Ryan Skelton, 39, of Los Alamos, Monday in Magistrate Court at the Justice Center. ADA Counce made her case against Skelton who is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated robbery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The charges filed against Skelton stem from an incident Jan. 25, 2025 during which testimony indicates that he approached four 9th grade Read More

Luján Issues Statement On New Portal For Whistleblowers To Bring Attention To Potential Lawlessness

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M) issued the following statement Monday regarding the announcement that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI) have created a new portal for federal employees who want to disclose information about wrongdoing, abuses of power, and threats to public safety:

“In just three weeks, President Trump has shown New Mexicans that his administration is willing to disregard the rule of law, recklessly terminate civil servants, and disband government Read More

Ringside Seat: Former Senator Turns Down Regent Seat

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By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Bathed in scandal and soaked by greed, Western New Mexico University lost its chance to land an excellent administrator.

Former state Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Silver City, told me she turned down an offer from the governor to be a regent of WNMU. Litigation regarding irresponsible spending by the previous board shaped her decision.

“After a lot of thought about the reality of being on the board of regents, I declined. The attorney general said new board members will be the ones who most likely will be sued ‘in their capacity,’ so I’m sure it will be a Read More

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Strengthen Public Safety In Indian Country

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U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) introduced the bipartisan Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act to support the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers, bolster federal missing persons resources, and give Tribes and states tools to combat violence.

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced Read More