Courts

New Mexico Supreme Court Issues Order Against Disclosure Of Immigration-Related Info Of Noncitizen Crime Victims

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) Tuesday ordered that visa information of crime victims remain confidential and not be available to the men accused of the crimes and their defense attorneys for possible use in trials.

The Court issued an order reversing the evidentiary decisions of two district courts that required disclosure of T and U visa applications and related materials of crime victims and their parents for the defense of the men who allegedly committed the crimes. The visa-related information includes answers to questions about the applicant’s medical, immigration Read More

FOG Applauds Court Decision Enforcing State’s Open Meetings Act On Village Of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque

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FOG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) applauds Tuesday’s decision by the Second Judicial District Court holding that the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s actions in approving a development plan were subject to the state’s Open Meetings Act (OMA), and that the Village’s failure to discuss and vote on the plan in a properly noticed public meeting violated the OMA, rendering the approval of the plan invalid.

District Court Judge Denise Barela Shepherd handed down her decision declaring the Village was wrong when it “improperly delegated final action Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Affirms Conviction Of Carlsbad Man For Daughter’s Death

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) on May 6 upheld the intentional child abuse conviction of a Carlsbad man for the death of his 8-year-old daughter, whose body he dumped in a trash can.

In a unanimous decision, the Court rejected arguments by Juan Lerma that he failed to receive a fair trial. He contended that jury instructions were improper and that his attorney was unduly restricted in cross-examining a key witness. He also alleged misconduct by the prosecution. 

Lerma was sentenced to life in prison for intentional child abuse resulting in the death of a child under 12 years Read More

FBI: Fruitland Man Gets Jail For Brutal Assault On Neighbor

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A federal judge handed down a 12-month plus one day prison sentence to a Fruitland man for assaulting his neighbor after a long-simmering tension boiled over.

According to publicly available court records, June 27, 2021, Elijah Cudei Etsitty, 27, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and his family got into a fistfight with their neighbor, Jane Doe’s husband. During the fight, the group pinned Jane Doe’s husband to the ground, where they continued to beat and choke him.

Seeing this, Jane Doe intervened to protect her husband. Etsitty slammed Jane Doe to the ground and Read More

LAFSE Issues Statement Of Support For New Mexico School Districts’ Lawsuit Over 180-Day NMPED Rule

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LAFSE News:

The Los Alamos Federation of School Employees, (LAFSE) today issued the following statement:

NMPED (New Mexico Public Education Department) continues to overreach through rule changes telling school districts, urban, rural, and everything in between, to abide by a one size fits all.

The Los Alamos Federation of School Employees supports New Mexico school districts in their lawsuit over the 180-day PED rule. Read More

FBI: Labar Tsethlikai Faces Life In Prison For Murder

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Labar Tsethlikai

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Labar Tsethlikai, 51, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, made an initial appearance on his Indictment related to the murder of a member of the Navajo Nation. He is considered the prime suspect in a series of crimes targeting Native American men in Gallup, Zuni and Albuquerque.

Tsethlikai will remain in custody pending his detention hearing and arraignment, which is set for May 1, 2024.

Tsethlikai is charged with murdering John Doe on Jan. 18, 2024. John Doe was found deceased the next morning in a remote area of the Zuni Reservation on Route 7, approximately Read More

NMED Reaches $24.5 Million Settlement With Ameredev

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An unauthorized flare at Ameredev’s Nandina facility in Lea County; photo taken at noon on Dec. 31, 2019 by AQB inspectors. Courtesy/NMED

NMED News:

  • Alleged air quality violations result in major settlement

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced today that oil and gas company Ameredev II, LLC (Ameredev) has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle alleged violations of state air regulations.

This is the largest settlement NMED has ever reached for a civil oil and gas violation. Under state law, $24.1 million of the penalty will be deposited into New Mexico’s General Read More

Attorney General Merrick Garland Calls Heinrich-Led Provisions In Safer Communities Act ‘Most Important Gun Legislation In Decades’

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich questions Attorney General Merrick Garland on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and Fentanyl Enforcement, April 17, 2024. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a key hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland about the U.S. Department of Justice’s enforcement of two important provisions that he authored with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) within the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Woman Gets 63 Mos. For Trafficking Meth

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Albuquerque woman was sentenced to 63 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine.  

According to court documents, Oct. 17, 2017, law enforcement intercepted two vehicles transporting methamphetamine to Farmington. Melissa Redfearn-Martinez was driving one of them. Law enforcement officers conducted a K9 sniff and search on both vehicles. Inside Redfearn’s vehicle, officers found 776.2 grams of methamphetamine.

After completing her term of imprisonment, Martinez will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Law Library Assists With First District Legal Fair At NNMC In Española Saturday

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

ESPAÑOLA — People with a civil or family law issue can receive free assistance at a legal fair Saturday, April 27. The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Northern New Mexico College campus in Española.

The New Mexico Supreme Court Law Library is assisting with the legal fair sponsored by the First Judicial District Pro Bono Committee and the Volunteer Attorney Program of New Mexico Legal Aid.

Walk-ins are welcome, and pre-registration is not necessary for this event.  Members of the public will be assisted on a first-come, first served basis. Attendees will receive Read More