Courts

State Ethics Commission Settles With New Mexico Treasurer Eichenberg Over Governmental Conduct Act Violations

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STATE News:

The State Ethics Commission announces that at the Commission’s October meeting, a proposed settlement between the State Ethics Commission and New Mexico State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg was approved by the Commission.

The settlement resolves an April 27 administrative complaint received by the State Ethics Commission, which alleged violations of the Governmental Conduct Act and the Campaign Reporting Act by Eichenberg. 

Oct. 14, 2022, following an investigation into the allegations, the State Ethics Commission approved a settlement with Eichenberg, which stipulates Read More

95 Attorneys Take Oath To Practice Law In New Mexico

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Supreme Court Chief Clerk Elizabeth Garcia (at podium) administers the oath to new attorneys for admission to the practice of law in New Mexico. Seated from left, Justice Julie J. Vargas, Justice Michael E. Vigil, Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon, Justice David K. Thomson and Justice Briana H. Zamora. Courtesy/NMSC Court

NMSC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Ninety-five new attorneys were admitted to the practice of law in the state of New Mexico Thursday during a swearing-in ceremony.

The oath of attorneys was administered by Supreme Court Chief Clerk Elizabeth A. Garcia during the ceremony outside of Read More

2022 New Mexico Supreme Court And Court Of Appeals Candidate Forum Online & In-person Oct. 18

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SBNM News:

The State Bar of New Mexico’s (SBNM) members are welcome to the Appellate Practice Section’s Candidate Forum.

The forum is being hosted for the 10 candidates running for the New Mexico Supreme Court and Court of Appeals this November.

There are two Court of Appeals positions and two Supreme Court positions up for election.

The Candidate Forum is 5-7 p.m. MT, Oct. 18 at the State Bar of New Mexico Center, at 5121 Masthead NE, in Albuquerque. The forum also will be livestreamed on the State Bar’s YouTube page, where it also may be viewed after the live presentation here.

All State Bar of New Read More

New Mexico Summit To Focus On Improving How Communities & Courts Respond To People With Mental Illness

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Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon

AOC News:

SANTA FE — Court leaders and county-based teams from across New Mexico will convene next week to develop priorities for better assisting people with behavioral health needs who become involved with the justice system.

“The behavioral health summit will allow stakeholders in our communities and courts to learn about strategies on the national and local level that can be collaboratively implemented to improve outcomes for individuals with mental health issues,” Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon said. “Proper intervention can help individuals who otherwise Read More

Heinrich, Luján Introduce Matthew L. Garcia For Consideration To Be U.S. District Judge For District Of New Mexico

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Nominee Matthew L. Garcia for United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico. Courtesy photo 

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON – Today, before the full Senate Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced Matthew L. Garcia to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico.

Senators Heinrich and Luján strongly recommended Garcia to join the District Court of New Mexico and welcomed President Joe Biden’s nomination in July of this year.

VIDEO: Heinrich, Luján Introduce Matthew L. Garcia For Consideration To Be Read More

Taylor: Sense Of Community Drew Me To Public Service

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By CATHERINE TAYLOR
Candidate For Magistrate Judge
Los Alamos

I write to introduce myself to Los Alamos County as a candidate for Magistrate Judge.

I graduated from Santa Clara University with a BS Political Science, and I earned my Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. After passing the California State Bar Exam, I began my career as a Deputy District Attorney prosecuting felony and misdemeanor cases in adult and juvenile courts.

After time off for the births of my two children, I was hired as Deputy Trial Counsel for the California State Bar, prosecuting California-licensed Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Convicted Of Producing Child Porn

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that a federal jury Sept. 28 returned a guilty verdict on Michael Bauldwin.

The jury convicted Bauldwin, 43, of Albuquerque, on two counts of production of child pornography.

A federal grand jury indicted Bauldwin Oct. 19, 2019.

Oct. 9, 2019, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) responded to a report of suspected child pornography on Bauldwin’s electronic tablet. The responding officers notified APD’s Child Exploitation Detail (“CED”) and Crimes Against Read More

AG Balderas Announces Felony Conviction Of Albuquerque Man Who Shot Neighbor’s Dog With A Pellet Gun

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Tuesday the felony conviction of David Wiegand.

In June 2020, Wiegand was captured on his neighbors’ backyard surveillance camera firing a pellet gun at Rocket, his neighbors’ 4-year-old black, white, and brown male doberman pinscher and heeler mix.

Rocket’s cries caused the neighbors to take him to the veterinarian, where doctors discovered other pellets lodged in Rocket’s skin. After enduring the incident, Rocket was nervous around new people, Read More

Democratic Party Of New Mexico Celebrates President Biden’s Mass Pardon For Marijuana Convictions

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DPLA News:

The Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPLA) is celebrating President Biden’s Thursday announcement of a pardon of all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana.

President Biden also is urging all Governors to do the same for state-level offenses.

“Far too many well-intentioned people have had their lives upended for being caught with a small amount of marijuana. Countless marijuana arrests were the result of prejudicial racial and socioeconomic targeting,” DPLA Executive Director Sean Ward said. “An arrest for a small amount of marijuana should never ruin someone’s Read More

AG Balderas Issues Statement On Jury Verdict Acquitting MDC Guards In Death Of Vincente Villela

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas issued the following statement Friday after the jury returned a not guilty verdict in the death of Vincente Villela, acquitting both Metro Detention Center (MDC) guards.

“Tragedies in our justice system are very difficult on all the impacted families, and while we are grateful to the jury and the Court for their service, it is important to give voice to victims like Vincente Villela,” Attorney General Balderas said.

(Prosecutors in the case said correction Read More