The New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association provides support, education and training for attorneys who represent persons accused of crime. NMCDLA also advocates fair and effective criminal justice in the courts, the legislature and in the community.
What's New
Issues with the Santa Fe Police Department’s Evidence Room
The Santa Fe New Mexican recently reported on dozens of issues with the Santa Fe Police Department’s handling and storage of evidence. NMCDLA's vice president commented that "The problem is we still don't know how many cases are affected."
Read MoreHappy New Year from Board President Richard Pugh
Richard takes a moment to reflect on NMCDLA's successes in 2019 and reminds members to pay their dues for the upcoming year. NMCDLA dues are essential to keeping up the fight and fueling us to bigger and better victories.
Read MoreNMCDLA Board Member quoted in the Albuquerque Journal
Christopher Dodd, a New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association board member, said the new law is already affecting the way he negotiates plea deals for his clients. He expects the defense will push for conditional discharges and work to avoid convictions for crimes that won’t be subject to expungement, and he plans to tell clients to come back when they’re eligible so he can help them through expungement. He says he plans to file one or two petitions in coming weeks.
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“The assistance of counsel is one of the safeguards of the Sixth Amendment deemed necessary to insure fundamental rights of life and liberty.”
– Justice Hugo Black, United States Supreme Court
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