Positions & News
NMCDLA’s Positions and News
Welcome to NMCDLA’s Positions and News Page. Below you will find links to Position Papers on a range of criminal justice issues along with contact information for NMCDLA members who can provide additional information. Beneath these links is a listing of News Stories related to the work of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and its members.
Media: For further information on any issue, please contact the NMCDLA Office at 505-992-0050 or the President of NMCDLA, Richard Pugh, 505-766-9667.
NMCDLA Positions
Bail
DNA
Domestic Violence
DWI
Expungement Records
Eyewitness Identification
Fair Rates for PD Contract Attorneys
Immigration
Incarceration
Juvenile Offenders
Sex Offender Punishment Registration
Solitary Confinement
The War on Drugs
New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Series on KSFR Radio Cafe
With host Mary-Charlotte Domandi
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!
NMCDLA in the News
Defense attorneys commend plan to reduce grand juries
by Katy Barnitz, Albuquerque Journal, May 28, 2019
The DA, not court or bail system, failed the victim
by Margaret Strickland, Albuquerque Journal, May 27, 2019
Let judges do their jobs
by Jonathan Ibarra, Santa Fe New Mexican, May 25, 2019
Public defender reacts to DA Torrez’s proposal to amend pretrial detention process
by Christine Pae, KOAT 7 Action News, May 22, 2019
BernCo DA unveils plan for defendant detention
by Katy Barnitz, Albuquerque Journal, May 22, 2019
DA Torrez proposes major changes to pretrial detention system
by Chris Ramirez, Albuquerque Journal, May 21, 2019
4 Investigates: Darian Bashir, the man accused of murdering UNM baseball player
by Chris Ramirez, KOB-4 TV, May 17, 2019
Trying to clear clogs in the New Mexico criminal justice system
by Phaedra Haywood, Santa Fe New Mexican, May 4, 2019
Limits on Solitary Confinement Head to the Governor
by Marisa DeMarco, KUNM Radio, March 25, 2019
Bill before governor gives sex abuse victims more time to seek justice
by Rebecca Moss, Santa Fe New Mexican, March 19, 2019
Pretrial detention is not a cure-all
by Steven Forsberg, Albuquerque Journal, March 11, 2019
Bill would shield some criminal records from view
by Elise Kaplan, Albuquerque Journal, March 6, 2019
Legislator wants to let Metro Court convene grand juries
by Andy Lyman, NM Political Report, February 15, 2019
Poll questions voters about crime solutions
by Brittany Costello, KOB-4 TV, October 15, 2018
What do New Mexicans think about public safety?
nmSAFE, October 15, 2018
Justice should not wait for a perfect world
by Michael Stout, Albuquerque Journal, September 14, 2018
DOC limiting Lea County prisoners’ showers, meals as group punishment
by Aaron Cantú, Santa Fe Reporter, September 8, 2018
Jail bond numbers plummet
by Katy Barnitz, Albuquerque Journal, September 6, 2018
DA wants NM Supreme Court to review grand jury changes
by Kai Porter, KOB4-TV, July 31, 2018
Making false confessions a real problem
by Margaret Strickland, Albuquerque Journal, July 11, 2018
Defense lawyers celebrate independence
by Phaedra Haywood, Santa Fe New Mexican, July 3, 2018
Federal Public Defender Wins 2018 Charles Driscoll Memorial Award
by Tom Trowbridge, KSFR 101.1, June 19, 2018
Analysis: Pardons have plummeted in New Mexico under Gov. Martinez
by Jeff Proctor and Justin Horwath, New Mexico In Depth, May 23, 2018
Specialty courts’ underuse questioned
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, April 29, 2018
Deal with the root cause of crime
by Matthew Coyte, Albuquerque Journal, February 9, 2018
Lincoln County a ‘microcosm’ of justice issues
by Maggie Shephard, Albuquerque Journal, January 19, 2018
Rules for Bernalillo County prosecutor eased
by ABQ Journal News Staff, Albuquerque Journal, December 5, 2017
Criminal Defense Lawyer: Bail reform is working in New Mexico
by Kate Bieri, ABC 7 KVIA, October 26, 2017
Politicians must now address the rising crime rate in Albuquerque
by Matt Coyte, Albuquerque Journal, October 18, 2017
District Attorney drops felony charges against Entrada protest leader
by Daniel Chacon and Andrew Oxford, Santa Fe New Mexican, October 10, 2017
DA’s suggest changes to Supreme Court on rule for keeping violent offenders locked up until trial
by Madeline Schmitt, KRQE News 13, September 28, 2017
Aztec community members protest constitutional amendment
by Joshua Kellogg, Farmington Daily Times, September 19, 2017
Public Defender Department seeks boost
by Dan Boyd, Albuquerque Journal, September 12, 2017
‘Rattlesnake Lawyer’ Jonathan Miller says writing, doing court work has made him better at both
by David Steinberg, Albuquerque Journal, August 20, 2017
ICE should be barred from ‘sensitive locations’
by Tova Indritz, Albuquerque Journal, August 6, 2017
Defendants Offered Hardline Plea Deals
by Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Rio Grande Sun, July 27, 2017
Eye on NM: The Public Safety Assessment – a tool for judges or loophole for criminals?
by Kai Porter, KOB4-TV, July 16, 2017
New Bond Rules fix a broken system
by Margaret Strickland, Ruidoso News, July 8, 2017
New Bond Rules fix a broken system
by Margaret Strickland, Alamogordo Daily News, July 8, 2017
Pick-ax Murderer’s Lawyer Asks for Lenient Sentence
by Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Rio Grande SUN, July 6, 2017
Catch and release: New rules affect how courts issue bonds
by Carlos Andres Lopez, Las Cruces Sun-News, July 1, 2017
DA’s criticism of court rules draws justice council’s pushback
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, June 22, 2017
District attorney seeks changes to reduce dismissals
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, June 19, 2017
New pre-trial risk assessment more fair
by Matthew Coyte, Albuquerque Journal, June 14, 2017
Federal public defender: In America people of color have been labeled with a broad brush
by Jeff Proctor, NM In Depth, May 22, 2017
Panel calls for end to solitary confinement
by Matthew Reisen, Albuquerque Journal, May 6, 2017
Bernalillo County DA plans to try less cases, focus on ‘worst of the worst’
by Madeline Schmitt, KRQE Channel 13, April 26, 2017
Lawyer Responds to Veto of Solitary Confinement Limits
by Marisa Demarco, KUNM, April 11, 2017
Martinez vetoes solitary reform, ‘ban the box’ bills
by Jeff Proctor, NM In Depth, April 6, 2017
Governor Martinez vetoes solitary confinement bill
by Chris Ramirez, KOB-4 TV, April 6, 2017
Suspense mounts as deadline nears for governor to act on 220 bills
by Dan McKay, Albuquerque Journal, April 5, 2017
Solitary confinement bill awaits governor’s signature
by Chris Ramirez, KOB-4 TV, April 4, 2017
Solitary confinement suits cost New Mexico counties millions
by Mary Hudetz, Santa Fe New Mexican, March 6, 2017
Solitary confinement restrictions move forward in house
by Phaedra Haywood, Santa Fe New Mexican, March 3, 2017
Attorneys don’t want ICE agents waiting outside courthouses
KOAT 7 Action News, March 1, 2017
Grading Legislation
New Mexico in Focus, NM PBS, February 24, 2017
Groups troubled by Downtown ICE arrests
by Katy Barnitz & Maggie Shepard, Albuquerque Journal, February 21, 2017
Bill would change handling of some nonviolent offenses
by Dan Boyd, Albuquerque Journal, February 21, 2017
NMCDLA Lobbyist Rikki-Lee Chavez & Chief Public Defender Ben Baur talk Criminal Justice Reform on Nuestra America
Nuestra America, KSFR 101.1, February 7, 2017
Public defenders underfunded, association president says
Kai Porter with Matt Coyte, KOB-4 TV, February 1, 2017
When Defendants Cannot Afford a Lawyer, and Neither Can New Mexico
by Fernanda Santos, New York Times, December 29, 2016
States and Cities Take Steps to Reform ‘Dishonest’ Bail System
by An-Li Herring, NPR, December 17, 2016
Lack of funds hits Public Defender Department hard
by Dan Boyd and Katy Barnitz, Albuquerque Journal, December 19, 2016
Media must stand by New Mexico children
by Chelsea Van Deventer, Albuquerque Journal, December 14, 2016
Around the country, bail bondsmen’s political muscle works overtime against reform efforts
by James Asher, The Lens, December 14, 2016
Funding shortage leads to lack of justice
by Margaret Strickland, Santa Fe New Mexican, December 10, 2016
Overloaded public defender’s office was years in the making
by Andy Lyman, NM Political Report, December 9, 2016
Feds investigate claims APD altered video
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, December 9, 2016
2nd Judicial DA Letter re APD Evidence Tampering
Kari Brandenburg, November 28, 2016
Brandenburg contacts feds over allegedly altered videos
by Colleen Heild, Albuquerque Journal, November 18, 2016
State needs rational approach to crime
by Nancy Hollander, Albuquerque Journal, Nocember 12, 2016
How a State Bail Reform Measure Lost the Support of Bail Reformers
by Nick Wing, Huffington Post, October 31, 2016
Bail on NM ballot: Should money determine freedom?
by Jeff Proctor and Andrew Becker, NM in Depth, Las Cruces Sun News, October 31, 2016
Expunging records, at times, is just
by Scott Davidson, Albuquerque Journal, October 30, 2016
Jail population/crime study called ‘simplistic’
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, October 20, 2016
Voters to consider amending NM bail system
by Andrew Oxford, Santa Fe New Mexican, October 17, 2016
New group questions tough-on-crime measures
by Rick Nathanson, Albuquerque Journal, October 13, 2016
‘Sometimes you just have to keep the bad guys in jail’
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, October 13, 2016
Public defender’s office in Hobbs unable to accept anymore clients
by Justin Horwath, Santa Fe New Mexican, October 10, 2016
Defense attorneys key part of justice system
by Joline Gutierrez Krueger, Albuquerque Journal, October 10, 2016
Build a safer New Mexico with evidence-based policies
by Norman Reimer, Santa Fe New Mexican, September 30, 2016
Too many political attacks made on criminal defense lawyers
by Margaret Strickland, Katherine Stimpson, Albuquerque Journal, 9/29/16
Help drug addicts, mentally ill to combat crime
by Jennifer Burrill, Albuquerque Journal, September 23, 2016
Tougher penalties don’t address the causes of crime
by Rory Rank, Albuquerque Journal, September 19, 2016
Public Defender’s Office may have to turn away cases
by Matt Howerton, KOAT 7 Action News, September 14, 2016
Fair proceedings are necessary to an effective system
by Michael Stout, Las Cruces Sun News, August 30, 2016
Government does not have the moral right to kill
by Darrell Allen, Albuquerque Journal, Letters to the Editor, August 30, 2016
Reviving death penalty would be a waste of money
by Margaret Strickland, Albuquerque Journal, August 22, 2016
Call for death penalty echoes Legislature’s ‘tough on crime’ session
by Joey Peters & Andy Lyman, NM Political Report, August 19, 2016
Jail’s culture of abuse hurts all people
by Matt Coyte, Albuquerque Journal, August 17, 2016
Shaming DWI offenders may be harmful
by Melissa Hill, Albuquerque Journal, May 3, 2016
Your DWI case may soon be trending on Twitter
by Maggie Shepard, Albuquerque Journal, April 19, 2016
Drained Defenders
by Steven Hsieh, Santa Fe Reporter, March 30, 2016
Speeding Up Trials Safely
KUNM Call-In Show with Jeff Rein, Arthur Pepin, Kari Brandenburg, Sergeant Liz Thompson, and Kelly Bradford, March 7, 2016
Bail constitutional amendment compromise clears House
by Alex Goldsmith, KRQE News 13, February 16, 2016
New Mexico House backs denying bail to violent suspects
by Morgan Lee, The Washington Times, February 15, 2016
More prisons and longer sentences are not the answer
by Margaret Strickland and Rikki-Lee Chavez, Albuquerque Journal, February 14, 2016
Why Nehemiah Griego will be released in 2 years
by Kai Porter, KOB Eyewitness News 4, February 12, 2016
Commentary: New Mexicans deserve smart crime policies
by Paul J. Gessing, Marc A. Levin, and Norman L. Reimer, Santa Fe New Mexican, February 8, 2016
Defense attorneys support statewide use of body cameras
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, February 5, 2016
Defense attorney group leader warns against tough-on-crime agenda
by Steve Terrell, Santa Fe New Mexican, January 28, 2016
Poll shows support for crime prevention over punishment
by Matthew Reichbach, NM Political Report, January 27, 2016
Full agenda to greet lawmakers this week
by Dan Boyd, Albuquerque Journal, January 17, 2016
Berry calls for Legislature to get tough on crime
by Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, January 15, 2016
Reform of NM bail system is life or death
by Justice Charles W. Daniels, Albuquerque Journal, January 15, 2016
Child porn bill will face opposition
by Justin Horwath, Santa Fe New Mexican, January 5, 2016
Reprinted in Clovis News Journal
ROBD’s proposed legal reforms
Albuquerque Journal, January 3, 2016
Victims’ families unite
by Maggie Shepard, Albuquerque Journal, January 3, 2016
The truth about the criminal justice system
by Jeff Rein, Albuquerque Journal, December 9, 2015
Speedy trial right isn’t a technicality
by Hon. Jonathan Ibarra, Albuquerque Journal, December 7, 2015
Judge: Public defender isn’t supplying adequate defense for former Santa Fe luxury home builder
by Mark Oswald, Albuquerque Journal, December 1, 2015
Order on November 30, 2015 Hearing, Regarding Court’s Order to Show Cause
Group: Half of female inmates in New Mexico paroled on time
by Justin Horwath, Santa Fe New Mexican, November 30, 2015
Defense lawyers: DA’s Office, police department to blame for cases dropped due to court rule
by Chris Ramirez, KOB Eyewitness News 4, November 30, 2015
Repeat offenders and solving crime
Matt Coyte with Nicole Brady, KOB 4 Eye on NM, November 24, 2015
More prison time won’t cut violent crime
by Matt Coyte, Albuquerque Journal, November 8, 2015
Bail bondsmen fight to protect their turf
by Thomas J. Cole, Albuquerque Journal, November 8, 2015
New jailhouse courtroom needs more thought, input
by Matt Coyte, Albuquerque Journal, September 12, 2015
Keeping dangerous criminals behind bars
by Mike Gallagher, Albuquerque Journal, August 29, 2015
An uncertain fate for death row inmates in states abolishing capital punishment
by Rebecca McCray, Yahoo News, August 15, 2015
State leaders gather for first crime review meeting held
by Patrick Lohmann, Albuquerque Journal, August 6, 2015
NM swims against criminal justice reform tide
by Joey Peters, NM Political Report, July 9, 2015
Push for tougher ‘three strikes’ law in New Mexico
by Dan Boyd, Albuquerque Journal, June 29, 2015
NMCDLA letter in support of LOPD grant request
by Barbara Mandel, May 19, 2015
Backers plan new push on child porn law revision
by Dan Boyd, May 19, 2015
Defense attorneys want information on possibly uncertified cops
by Andy Lyman, NM Political Report, May 14, 2015
Ensure new child-porn penalties are just
by Jennifer Burrill, Albuquerque Journal, May 13, 2015
Some New Mexico defendants denied public defenders
by Tina Jensen, KRQE 13 News, May 8, 2015
Tell government what’s yours is not their’s
by Margaret Strickland, Las Cruces Sun News, November 21, 2014
Inmate to sue over 7 years of solitary confinement at state penitentiary
by Phaedra Haywood, The New Mexican, November 18, 2014
Jail overcrowding: Deadlines set to resolve cases faster
by Megan Cruz, KOATV 7 News, November 13, 2014
Pills-for-sex trade rampant in NM facility
by Chris Ramirez, KOB Eyewitness News 4, October 31, 2014
Don’t Punish Lawyers for Upholding Constitution
by Barbara Mandel, Las Cruces Sun News, October 28, 2014
Disciplinary Board Not Afraid to Act
by Barbara Mandel, Albuquerque Journal, October 26, 2014
Group Asks for Low Risk, Non-violent Inmates to be Released
by Angela Brauer, KOATV 7 News, April 30, 2014
APD Lapel Not Always Logged Into Evidence
by Erica Zucco, KOB 4 Eyewitness News, April 25, 2014
Eyes on NM: Solitary Confinement in NM Jails
by Chris Ramirez, KOB 4 Eyewitness News, February 9, 2014
Panel Approves DWI Bill
by Dan Boyd, Albuquerque Journal, February 4, 2014
Jail Crowding Serious, Fixable
by Matt Coyte, Albuquerque Journal, February 2, 2014
Click here to read news earlier than 2014