Mario:
I have sat on the judicial selection committee for the last 7 judges. I have asked each one of the canidates the same question How do we hold the state accountable. Repeatedly (last week being no exception) The District Attorney's and the police officers are not ready for trial, when the case is called. They have failed to show up for pretrial interviews and failed to schedule pretrail interviews. These cause dimissal after dismissal. If you were wrongfully charged with DWI, you would be livid over the fact that your attorney could not do his job in being prepared for trial. The problem centers around two organizations, the police and the district attorney's office, These people cite the overwhelming case load as their problem. They state the officers are two busy to schedule these interviews. Richardson and the legislature need to hold these people acountable. Laws are needed to force the state to make the District Attorneys and police officers adhere to their duties in court. We need elected officials and judges to hold the state accountable. When judges seek to do this, they are met with disdain from the police officers, the district attorney's office or the public. This has to stop if we are to curb the DWI problem. Instead, the public just sees the dismissal of these cases and blames the judicial process. Instead the blame must be put on the appropriate party, the district attorney's office. Hold them liable for contempt or sanctions. Create programs for review of the District Attorney's office. They are the largest firm in the state and need to be held accountable. The Miller Law firm, the modrall Law firm and the Rodey Law firm handle many more complex matters than the sitrict attorney's office. THey have little problem being ready for their cases. We must covey that the district Attorney's office is not a place to show up and get a paycheck. It is enforcing the States rights and protecting the public. If we cannot do this we will fail to Curb the DWI problem or we will become a State which does not promote our basic constitutional rights. In order to curb the problem DA's and police offices must not treat New Mexico as the land of Manana and must treat it as the land of today
Michael Seibel | 08.21.06 - 9:59 am | #