On Dec. 26, 2017, I wrote a story (posted below) about how a guy who got busted in Rio Rancho for DWI had to sit in jail longer than state court rules required because the RR Municipal Court judge didn't come in to work over the holiday weekend.
The story was incorrect in regards to the judge violating the Supreme Court rules. He didn't violate the rules.
But, it's not my fault. I got the incorrect information form Artie Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts for New Mexico
The story (which is posted below) said that Rio Rancho Municipal Court Judge G. Robert Cook violated state Supreme Court rules by failing to give Raaj Mohan a bond hearing within 72 hours of his being booked into the Sandoval County jail.
The story also said that weekends and holidays - days the court is closed - can't interfere with the 72-hour rule. In other words, 72 hours is 72 hours, damn the holidays.
That was also incorrect.
Here's the statement I got today (Jan. 5, 2018), from Pepin:
"Mr. Domrzalski – When you called asking about the three-day rule I reversed the rules and mis-stated how the time is calculated. Judge Cook is correct. With a deadline of ten days or less, as is the case with the three-day rule for setting conditions of release, days when the court is closed including holidays and weekend days do NOT count toward the three days. I regret that I gave you an incorrect reading of the rule that caused you to criticize Judge Cook. I will be writing to him as well. Please feel free to quote and rely on this message if you are able to correct my error."
My apologies to Judge Cook.
And thank you to Pepin for correcting the information.