Latest news with #11thJudicialDistrict
CBS News
20-06-2025
- CBS News
Husband of Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew arrested for her murder for the second time
The husband of Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew has been arrested for first-degree murder in her death more than five years ago. This is the second time Barry Morphew has faced murder charges in connection to her homicide. Suzanne Morphew was reportedly last seen on Mother's Day May 10, 2020, when she went for a bike ride and never returned. Suzanne Morphew Suzanne Morphew/Facebook Suzanne Morphew left behind two teenage daughters and a husband, Barry Morphew, who was not only the prime suspect in her disappearance at the time but was also charged with her murder. Barry Morphew was arrested on May 5, 2021, for the first time on charges of murder after deliberation, tampering with physical evidence and attempting to influence a public servant. Less than a year later, in April 2022, a judge dismissed the case against Barry Morphew. TIMELINE: Suzanne Morphew case: Timeline of events in the death of the Colorado mother At the time, the 11th Judicial District Attorney, Linda Stanley, filed the motion to "dismiss without prejudice," which means that prosecutors could file charges against Barry Morphew at a later date. Since then, a disciplinary board has recommended Stanley be disbarred because of improper statements made to the media during the investigation, which they claim contributed to a change of venue for the trial. Suzanna and Barry Morphew grew up in the same hometown of Alexandria, Indiana, and met in high school. Suzanne Morphew/Facebook Barry Morphew filed a $15 million lawsuit against the Eleventh Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, and the CBI, claiming he was wrongfully charged in his wife's disappearance and, at the time, presumed death in May 2023. That case was dismissed in September 2024. According to the CBI, Suzanne's remains were located during the course of a search in Moffat on Sept. 22, 2023, and those remains were positively identified just five days later as those of Suzanne Morphew by the El Paso County Coroner. Her death was determined to be a homicide of "undetermined means," and drugs typically used as tranquilizers for wildlife were detected in her remains. On Wednesday, the Twelfth Judicial District Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Barry Morphew with first-degree murder of his wife. He was taken into custody in Gilbert, Arizona, on Friday. The district attorney's office said it will seek to extradite Barry Morphew back to the San Luis Valley. "Federal, State and local law enforcement have never stopped working toward justice for Suzanne," said Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly in a statement. "The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney's Office stands in solidarity with Suzanne's family and the citizens of Chaffee and Saguache Counties in pursuing the Grand Jury's indictment." Investigators have not released details on why the case is now being prosecuted in the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney's Office when it was initially prosecuted in the 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office. The public is asked to continue to report any information about this case by calling (719) 312-7530 or emailing cdps_suzannemorphew_tipline@
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Showdown brewing after lawmakers' defunding of Gallup District Attorney's Office
Jun. 11—SANTA FE — The district attorney in McKinley County is facing the defunding of her office in just three weeks, after a simmering debate over prosecution rates prompted lawmakers to take the rare step of stripping state funds for an elected official. District Attorney Bernadine Martin said Wednesday attempts to "remedy" the situation are in the works, including a possible working agreement with San Juan County District Attorney Jack Fortner. She also did not rule out filing a court challenge. The showdown was set in motion when lawmakers approved a $10.8 billion state budget bill in March that does not include any base funding for employee salaries and benefits in Martin's office. Instead, the bill that takes effect next month earmarks $1.9 million for the district attorney in neighboring San Juan County to prosecute cases in McKinley County. It also provides an additional $1.9 million for contract attorneys to be hired in the district. Martin, who is the state's first female Navajo district attorney, was reelected last year as the top prosecutor for the second division of the 11th Judicial District. She said the defunding holds her "hostage" and prevents her from performing her elected duties. "Because he got my money doesn't mean he runs my office," she said in a Wednesday interview, referring to the San Juan County district attorney. Martin also said her office currently has 24 full-time employees, including investigators, victim advocates and administrative staff. But Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he was approached by judges, other prosecutors and Chief Public Defender Ben Baur about an alarmingly low number of prosecutions in McKinley County and Martin's management of the District Attorney's Office. He added Martin has not shown up for legislative budget hearings in several years, and said defunding her office was the only way to ensure cases move forward. "If cases aren't getting prosecuted and judges are telling me we're in the worst shape in the state, my job as a legislator is to step up and do something," Muñoz told the Journal. "This is the only place we can really handcuff her and make sure criminal cases get prosecuted," he added, saying some employees from Martin's office had also approached him with concerns about management practices involving the use of overtime. Law enforcement awaiting resolution While Albuquerque has primarily been the focus of legislative attempts to improve public safety in recent years, Gallup has also struggled with high crime and addiction rates. The city's violent crime rate has actually decreased in recent years, but Gallup still had the state's highest violent crime rate as of 2022, with roughly 1,500 such incidents per 100,000 residents, according to legislative data. McKinley County Sheriff James Maiorano said Wednesday the lack of attorneys in Martin's office prompted him to refer a vehicular homicide case to Attorney General Raúl Torrez's office several years ago. He said the situation has somewhat improved since Martin hired two contract attorneys to handle cases, but said the set-up is still far from ideal. "You may be the best attorney in the world, but when you get to 400 or 500 cases per attorney, things are going to fall through the cracks," Maiorano said. Due to chronic staffing issues, the District Attorney's Office in Gallup has had by far the state's highest average caseload for attorneys in recent years. During the first quarter of the current budget year, the figure hit 2,822 cases per attorney, according to Legislative Finance Committee data. In addition, only 18 cases went to trial in the judicial district last year, out of nearly 1,500 cases that were referred to the office, according to data compiled by Muñoz's office. Martin acknowledged this week her largely rural District Attorney's Office has struggled to attract applicants for attorney positions. But she said that problem is not unique to her office, citing similarly low staffing rates at the local public defender's office. How the defunding vote played out This year's budget bill initially included $3.3 million for the District Attorney's Office in McKinley County, along with additional funding for contract attorneys. But after the bill was approved by the House, it was amended in the Senate Finance Committee. One of those changes involved stripping the funding for the District Attorney's Office out of the bill, and adding budget language stipulating new cases in the county would be handled by Fortner, the newly-elected district attorney in San Juan County. Though several senators expressed concern about the change, the bill passed the Senate on a 24-16 vote and was then ratified by the House. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the budget bill into law in April, leaving the altered funding plan intact. A Lujan Grisham spokesman declined to comment on the situation Wednesday, while Fortner did not respond to a message seeking comment. Maiorano, the local sheriff, described the situation as delicate, citing state law that empowers district attorneys to decide whether to move forward with cases or dismiss them. "We are all holding our breath for July 1," he said, referring to the date the new state budget takes effect.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas Supreme Court names new chief judge for 11th District
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Supreme Court has named a new chief judge of its 11th Judicial District. According to the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration, Kurtis Loy, a judge in the 11th Judicial District since 2013, has been appointed to serve in the position of chief judge from April 7 through December 31. Loy fills the unexpired term of Judge Lori Bolton Fleming, who has been appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals. The counties of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette are within the 11th Judicial District of Kansas. The Kansas Office of Judicial Administration states that Each of Kansas' 31 judicial districts has a chief judge who, in addition to their judicial responsibilities, has control over the case assignments within the district, as general supervisory authority over the administrative and clerical functions of the court. Pittsburg approves higher recoverable costs for Creekside Villas Pittsburg to host Art Festival on Saturday Pittsburg State highlights construction careers for future workers Kansas courts engage college students with live hearings Pittsburg man arrested in weekend shooting investigation 'I am honored to be selected by Chief Justice Luckert to serve as chief judge. I look forward to assuming the responsibility of the position,' said Loy. Loy has his bachelor's degree in accounting from Pittsburg State University and his law degree from Washburn University School of Law. He was previously in private practice before becoming a judge. Loy is a member of the Kansas District Judges Association, Kansas Bar Association, and the Kansas Bar Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Kelly appoints Lori Bolton Fleming to Kansas Court of Appeals
KANSAS — Governor Laura Kelly appoints a southeast Kansas woman to the Kansas Court of Appeals. Judge Lori Bolton Fleming has served as the chief judge of the 11th Judicial District since 2021, overseeing five courthouses in Cherokee, Labette, and Crawford counties. She created the district's first recovery court, for which she serves as administrator. Community support helps provide pet food relief in Southeast Kansas Fort Scott honors Prof. Hawkins' dedication to African American education Neodesha residents should avoid this contaminated stream Bolton Fleming has previously been invited to hear and decide cases with the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court, rendering 38 opinions as an appellate judge. Her appointment will now go to the Kansas Senate. If confirmed, she will fill the vacancy left by retiring Judge Henry Green Jr. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
First Native American district court judge named to San Juan and McKinley Counties
FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) – A Farmington attorney and a member of the Navajo Nation will be the first Native American to serve as a district court judge in San Juan and McKinley County. Brenna Clani-Washinawatok was appointed by the governor as the first Indigenous district court judge in the 11th Judicial District. Gila Trout habitat restoration project underway She previously worked as an attorney with the health care authority, district attorney's office, and Navajo Nation Department of Justice. Clani-Washinawatok is also a fifth-generation master Navajo weaver. She will be sworn in next month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
