A decision by Chief District Judge Barbara Vigil that would essentially shut down the courthouse in Tierra Amarilla by July 1 should be revisited. Last week, Judge Vigil, presiding judge of the First Judicial District, wrote court employees saying the move "will allow this district to better allocate judicial resources to meet the needs of the entire district." Her letter informs court staff that she has decided to move the state court's office and clerk employees to Santa Fe.
While we sympathize with Vigil's goals of better allocating court resources, the courts are hardly the only player involved. The First Judicial District covers Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties, so essential parties also include sheriff and police officials, criminals, jails, as well as families and victims. At present, District Judge Sheri Raphaelson is assigned to hear Rio Arriba cases, which she does in the Tierra Amarilla courthouse. TA, as locals call it, is the county seat for Rio Arriba, and h ... Read more >>
Editorial: Out and about in Santa Fe
Summer doesn't officially begin until June 20, but we are in full summer mode here in Santa Fe. After all, workers from the city of Santa Fe have been out and about, cleaning up and making the city even more beautiful. Tourists seem to be everywhere, ... Read more >>
Editorial: On Memorial Day, honor the fallen
In a time when Memorial Day has become best-known as the holiday for barbecues and bargains, in a country that recently wound down one war and is still enmeshed in a second, it is essential once again to return to the origins of this national day of ... Read more >>
Editorial: Finally, a way to leave coal behind
Tactics by Public Service Co. of New Mexico to stall court-mandated pollution controls at its coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Farmington are wrong-headed. But not for the reason one might think. After all, the controls do work. They would ... Read more >>
Editorial: Crossways on crossing guards
It's easy to wax nostalgic about crossing guards -- after all, most adults of a certain age had the honor of donning a safety vest and escorting the kindergartners across the street back in elementary school. Being chosen as a crossing guard was a ri ... Read more >>
Editorial: A conflict over condoms?
Of course, citizens likely will never know the full story about what is going on at the state Department of Health and why the top medical officer was asked to resign last week shortly after doing a television interview recommending that teens use co ... Read more >>
Editorial: For DA: Angela 'Spence' Pacheco
The job of the district attorney is broader than simply securing convictions. It also is about seeking justice -- for the state, the victim and the public at large. Incumbent 1st Judicial District Attorney Angela "Spence" Pacheco understands this.
... Read more >>
Letters to the editor
Attorney unfairly characterized
Comments: (0)
Regarding, "Short memories impede DA's race": The letter writer, Sheila Lewis, seems to be the one with the faulty memory when it comes to the homicide case I argued five years ago. Lewis was clearly not in the same courtroom as everyone else. It is ... Read more>>
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Views on issues? Check out Trujillo's website
