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Galvan says he doesn’t live with Garza, also responds to lawsuit filed by accuser in rape case

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I ran into former Magistrate Judge Reuben Galvan last night at the Democratic Party’s meeting. He wanted to address a couple of recent issues. First, Galvan said he wanted to make clear that he does not live with suspended Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza. New Mexico State Police Capt. Richard Williams wrote in a police report that, when he attempted to deliver an order last month that Garza submit to a drug test, the door to Garza’s home was answered by Galvan, who said “that Judge Garza does live at that residence with him.” “I do not live there,” Galvan told me. “I was just there to feed his dog because he was going out of town.” In addition, a woman who accused Galvan of rape and bribery in 2004 filed a lawsuit against him last month. Continue Reading

Critics say judicial discipline system isn’t fair

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This is the second in a series of articles running this week that will examine whether the judicial discipline process is fair to judges accused of misconduct. For additional articles and more information, visit the home page for this special report by clicking here. Some in Doña Ana County say the Judicial Standards Commission has gone too far in its attempt to protect the public and preserve the integrity of the judiciary, and is not being fair to judges accused of misconduct. Five of 15 elected municipal, magistrate, probate and district judges in Las Cruces have been disciplined or resigned amid scandal since 2004. The most outspoken critic of the commission has been Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza. Continue Reading

Dems pick Schultz to run for district judge

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The Democratic Party has selected longtime attorney Lisa Schultz to run for District Judge in November. Schultz, 48, will face Republican Janetta Hicks on Nov. 7. Local members of the party’s state central committee voted at a meeting Monday to place Schultz on the ballot. The position is vacant because of the death last week of District Judge Silvia Cano-Garcia. Continue Reading

We must start work on a real solution to terrorism

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On this fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that changed America forever, it’s important to consider whether we are closer to solving the problem of terrorism. We’re an even more polarized nation than we were on Sept. 10, 2001. The terrorist attacks were horrible acts committed by men willing to die for their cause. How to respond to such hatred has divided us. Continue Reading

Journal polls find support for commuter rail and campaign finance reform, less for spaceport

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There were a couple of interesting polls released by the Albuquerque Journal this weekend. Nearly 60 percent of New Mexicans were on board with the idea of a $400 million commuter rail from Santa Fe to Belen. Meanwhile, only 35 percent supported the plan to build a spaceport at Upham, while 56 percent were opposed and eight percent were undecided. Support for the spaceport project was higher in Albuquerque and Southern New Mexico, the Journal reported, while support for the commuter rail was lower in Southern New Mexico. The biggest drag on the approval rating for the spaceport came from Northwestern New Mexico. Continue Reading

2004 DWI arrest triggered reshaping of judiciary

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This is the first in a series of articles running this week that will examine whether the judicial discipline process is fair to judges accused of misconduct. For additional articles and more information, visit the home page for this special report by clicking here. John Brennan couldn’t have known when he tried to evade a DWI checkpoint in Albuquerque that his actions would not only change his life, but also lead to a reshaping of New Mexico’s judiciary. As a result of the May 2004 incident, the former chief judge of the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque was charged with drunken driving and, along with his female passenger, cocaine possession. He later pleaded guilty to the charges. Continue Reading

Poll: Pearce has lead in congressional race

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Though the results were a bit closer than I expected and other, scientific polls have predicted, most voters in last week’s unscientific poll on this site believe U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., is on his way to re-election. Of 122 votes, 67, or 55 percent, went to Pearce. 55, or 45 percent, went to his Democratic challenger, Al Kissling. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Introduction: Judicial scandal captures headlines

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A judge is arrested for drunken driving and cocaine possession. Another is indicted for rape and bribery. A third resigns after being found incompetent to stand trial on charges stemming from a motorcycle crash. A series of egregious incidents involving New Mexico judges in 2004 led to a dramatic increase in funding for and, as a result, activity of the Judicial Standards Commission, the state body charged with holding judges accountable to the Code of Judicial Conduct. Thirty-four percent of petitions for discipline or temporary suspension of judges filed by the 38-year-old commission have come since Jan. Continue Reading

Dems pick Balderas to run for state auditor

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The New Mexico Democratic Party on Saturday picked Hector Balderas to run for state auditor. The first-term legislator from Wagon Mound would replace Jeff Armijo. Armijo is fighting in court to keep his name on the ballot. Balderas defeated Albuquerque lawyer Daniel Ivey-Soto, Albuquerque consultant Vince Baca and Armijo during Saturday’s meeting of the state central committee, according to the Associated Press. Armijo didn’t attend the meeting and was in the running because a supporter nominated him, the news service reported. Continue Reading

GOP picks deputy district attorney to run for judge

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The Republican Party has selected Senior Deputy District Attorney Janetta Hicks to run for district judge in November. Local members of the party’s state central committee voted at a meeting Saturday morning to place Hicks, 42, on the ballot. The position is vacant because of the death last week of District Judge Silvia Cano-Garcia. Longtime Las Cruces attorney Jim Reeves was the only other candidate nominated for the position at Saturday’s meeting. He stressed to the group that its members should select “somebody who has the credentials and will be strong enough to win against what I know will be a strong (Democratic) candidate.” “The question is, who can win?” he said. Continue Reading

Armijo, Democratic Party both ask district judges to intervene; Saturday meeting still on

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The Democratic Party of New Mexico and Jeff Armijo have both filed lawsuits asking district judges to back their positions in the dispute over whether Armijo should be the party’s candidate for state auditor. The Democratic Party filed its complaint Friday afternoon in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe. You can read the complaint by clicking here. Armijo’s attorney, Paul M. Kienzle of Albuquerque, filed his complaint Friday in the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque. You can read the complaint by clicking here. Continue Reading

Cano-Garcia recalled as gifted, determined, humble

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District Attorney Susana Martinez was among many who wept as they read Bible passages or gave eulogies Friday during a service for District Judge Silvia Cano-Garcia, who died Monday after a long battle with cancer. “So many of us look back on our lives and wonder, ‘have I made a difference?’ We wonder if we are dedicating our energies and the talents God gave each of us to what really matters. For Silvia, there is no doubt,” Martinez said. “She did make a difference. She was devoted as a daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend. Continue Reading

Remembering ‘mi guapa,’ Silvia Cano-Garcia

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This is a guest column written by a close friend of Judge Silvia Cano-Garcia, who died this week after a long battle with cancer. By Susana Chaparro “Mi guapa” was my nickname for her. In Spanish it means elegant, beautiful. I’ve known mi querida amiga since junior high. There are so many wonderful memories I have of my dear and beloved friend, Silvia Cano-Garcia. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: Governor secures release of American journalist

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Gov. Bill Richardson successfully secured the release today of Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Paul Salopek and two colleagues following a meeting with Sudanese President Lt. General Umar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir. “I am pleased to report that our negotiations were successful, and Paul Salopek will return home to New Mexico with me,” Richardson said in a news release. “I want to thank the Sudanese President Lt. General Umar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, who was receptive to my request to release Paul Salopek and his colleagues based on humanitarian grounds.” “The successful end to this unfortunate episode is a victory for journalism and a free press,” Richardson said. “Most important, these three men will return home safely to be with their families, friends and colleagues who were relentless in their appeals to have them freed.” Richardson traveled with Calvin Humphrey, his foreign policy advisor, to Khartoum, Sudan on Friday, where he met with the Sudanese President Lt. General Umar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir. He also took with him Salopek’s wife and the editor of the Chicago Tribune. Continue Reading

State Rep. candidate has Web site

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I’ve never told you about Isaac Chavez’s Web site. He’s the Republican candidate attempting to unseat Rep. Andy Nuñez, D-Hatch. His Web site can be found at http://www.isaacechavez.com. If you know of any other Web sites for Democratic or Republican candidates that I haven’t posted, let me know. You can e-mail me at heath@haussamen.com. Continue Reading