New Mexico

Non-Sequiturs: 08.29.12

* New Zealand's Parliament has passed the first stage of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. Lawmakers were apparently inspired by President Obama's public support of the issue. [Huffington Post] * The trial of a Florida teen accused of impersonating a physician assistant is underway. Among other things, he allegedly dressed in scrubs, used a stethoscope, and performed CPR on a patient. Apparently, just because you've seen it on Grey's Anatomy doesn't mean you're allowed to do it in real life. [ABC News] * "And to my son, I bequeath my playlist of one-hit wonders and my season pass to Breaking Bad." Marketwatch tackles the tricky question of who owns your digital music (and e-book) collections after you die. [Marketwatch / WSJ] * A New Mexico criminal defense attorney, David "Chip" Venie, was charged yesterday with allegedly shooting a man in the leg at his law office. Oh, and Venie's wife filmed the whole thing on her cell phone, including the unarmed victim holding out his empty hands. [ABA Journal] * Lawyers for the Amish men and women charged with forcibly cutting the beards and hair of their "perceived enemies" say they were motivated by compassion, not hatred. Sometimes you've just got to let someone know her haircut's not doing her any favors. [NY Times] * In First Amendment news, the D.C. Circuit court has invalidated an FDA regulation requiring cigarette companies to place warning labels on packages. Is this a victory for free speech, or for big tobacco? [The Atlantic]

Zealous Representation? Attorney’s Misconduct Caught on Candid Camera

If you took a professional responsibility course in law school, or even studied for the MPRE, then you’re familiar with the the main takeaway on legal ethics for attorneys. It looks like this attorney didn't get the memo....

Judge Accused of Raping Prostitute Will Put Away His Gavel

A New Mexico judge who has been accused of raping a prostitute has decided to resign from the bench.

Judges Behaving Badly? A Slew of Lurid Allegations

If the allegations are true, one sitting judge and one former judge have been very naughty boys. Let's find out what they stand accused of....

Pro-Life Billboard or Harassing Invasion of Privacy?

I’m all for father’s rights. I think they should be co-equal with mother’s rights just as soon as the child is born. Before the child is born? When we’re just talking about cells that are parasitically living off of the mother in an invasive way as they mangle the woman’s organs, while the father says […]

Declination Letter of the Day: Never Say Lawyers Have No Standards

Just so you guys know, lawyers don’t represent every client who walks through the door. Really. I know that the public perception of lawyers is that they’ll take just about any client, but it’s not true. And not just because some cases are “dogs.” Sometimes lawyers turn down clients simply because the law firm morally […]

Judge of the Day: Ira Robinson

Compared to their colleagues in the trial court, appellate judges have a reputation for being delicate, academic creatures, with less in the way of “street smarts.” But don’t lump New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Ira Robinson in that group. From the Albuquerque Journal (subscription): New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Ira Robinson expected the […]