Courthouse Raids

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The old Metropolitan Courthouse, built in 1980 is in the background at Fourth and Roma N.W., on the far left. The new Bernalillo County District Courthouse opened in 2001 at a cost of $45 million is in the center. The new Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse opened in 2004, is on the right, both are at Fourth and Lomas N.W.

Part of what this Blogspot is intended to do is introduce you to the players on the political scene. I don’t know them all nor have I photographed them all, but when and where I can I will introduce them. There is a saying that you can't tell the players without a program.

These are stormy times for elected New Mexico officials and Bernalillo county judges as Republican U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, David C. Iglesias has directed the FBI to investigate construction cost irregularities at the two courthouses.

Iglesias' great claim to fame after being appointed U.S. Attorney for New Mexico by President George W. Bush in 2001, is that from 1985 to 1988 he served as a Naval Judge Advocate General staff attorney and was a member of the defense team in the Navy’s court martial case that inspired the movie “A Few Good Men,” starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.


State Auditor Domingo P. Martinez’ office is also looking into the District Courthouse as well as the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center that was opened two years behind schedule and is still not fully functional.

The FBI and State Auditor are only conducting investigations at the moment. In light of the other political investigations into State Insurance superintendent Eric Serna and the federal corruption trial involving two former state treasurers, all of these probes are worth watching.