Courts

New Mexico Supreme Court: Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Tribal Casino Cannot Be Brought In State Court

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that an employee of an electrical company cannot sue a pueblo and its tribal-owned enterprises in state court for damages for injuries allegedly suffered while making a delivery at a tribal casino.

In a unanimous opinion, the Court concluded that New Mexico state courts no longer have the authority to decide bodily injury and property damage lawsuits by casino visitors. Rulings in two federal court cases have the effect of terminating a provision in tribal-state gaming compacts that previously allowed such tort claims to be brought Read More

New Mexico Judiciary Launches Rural Justice Initiative Clerkship Program To Help Increase Legal Services Providers

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Judiciary is launching the Rural Justice Initiative Clerkship Program Thursday to help provide more legal services providers in rural New Mexico.

The program will create four paid law clerk positions in Farmington, Aztec or Gallup, Clovis and Portales under the guidance and mentorship of state judicial district Chief Judges. 

“The Rural Clerkship Program addresses the dire need for lawyers in rural areas,” New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon said. “We’re creating career opportunities for new lawyers who can provide more access to justice Read More

FBI: Mexican National, Namiquipa Police Chief Carlos Arturo Quintana Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Trafficking Charge

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced Thursday that Carlos Arturo Quintana pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana, intending and knowing that said controlled substance would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

Quintana, 41, of Namiquipa, Chihuahua, Mexico, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Read More

Chacón: AG Snaps Back At Republican Lawmaker Who Asked For Apology To ‘Fake Electors’

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Attorney General Raul Torres speaks Wednesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee about findings of an investigation into ‘fake electors’ in the 2020 presidential election. Courtesy/Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican

By DANIEL J. CHACÓN 
The Santa Fe New Mexican

A presentation on the findings of an investigation into five “fake electors” sparked a tense exchange Wednesday between New Mexico’s top prosecutor and a GOP lawmaker.

After Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the group could not be prosecuted under current law, state Sen. Mark Moores, (R-Albuquerque), questioned whether Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Finds Double Jeopardy Violation In Man’s Convictions For Armed Robbery/Aggravated Battery

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Courtesy/NMSC

New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE — A Cibola County man’s convictions for robbing a diner and shooting the diner’s owner violate constitutional protections against multiple punishments for a singular course of criminal conduct, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

In a unanimous opinion, the Court ordered a district court to vacate Ramon Lorenzo’s conviction for aggravated battery, but the justices left in place the conviction for armed robbery of the diner in Milan in 2013.

“We conclude that the conduct underlying both charges was unitary and that the State Read More

NMSP: 14-Year-Old Boy Shoots 6-Year-Old Child In Hurley

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NMSP News:

HURLEY, N.M. – On Jan. 12, the Hurley Police Department requested the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigations Bureau to investigate a shooting involving a 6-year-old child.

NMSP agents learned that Hurley police officers responded to the 200 block of D Street for reports that a 6-year-old child had been shot. When officers arrived, they saw a 14-year-old juvenile running from the scene. Officers detained the juvenile, who had a dismantled handgun and ammunition in his pockets.

Further investigation indicates the child was sitting inside a car parked in front of the house Read More

FBI: Mexican National Brothers Face 8 Years Each For Assault Upon Federal Officer Involving Physical Contact

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Jose Maria Reyes-Fuentes and his brother Juventino Darinel Reyes-Fuentes pled guilty in federal court to assault upon a federal officer involving physical contact.

Jose Maria, 23, and Juventino Darinel, 29, both Mexican nationals, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to court documents, Aug. 20, 2023, a Border Read More

FBI: Ricardo Arce, III Gets 90 Months For Hostage Taking

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, John Morales, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) El Paso Field Office, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Ricardo Arce, III was sentenced to 90 months in prison.

Arce, 44, of Chaparral, N.M., pled guilty in federal court Sept. 22, 2021, to conspiracy to take a hostage and two counts of hostage taking.

In his plea agreement, Arce admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants, Jonathan Matthew Gonzalez Read More

Parent Sues Schools Alleging Civil Rights Violations

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Los Alamos resident Luckie Daniels and her daughter who attends Los Alamos Public Schools. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos resident Luckie Daniels filed an 84-page lawsuit Nov. 27, 2023, against Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) alleging her rights were violated pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Daniels is the parent of a Los Alamos High School student. She is representing herself in the suit in which she names the Superintendent Jennifer Guy, Assistant Superintendent Carter Payne and members of the school board.

Quiñones Read More

Reminder: County Seeks Applicants For Probate Judge

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COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County officials wish to remind citizens that it is not too late to express interest in filling the position of Probate Judge, to be vacated Feb. 2 when the Honorable Michael Redondo resigns.

In this important post, this individual oversees proceedings and renders decisions regarding cases presented in the Probate Court System.

Interested Los Alamos residents at least 18 years of age are encouraged to email a letter of interest to the County Manager at lacmanager@lacnm.us. Letters should be one to two pages long, detailing the reasons for applying. All letters must Read More