FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
First Judicial District Attorney’s Office Responds to New Mexico Supreme Court Decision in State of New Mexico v. Judah Elijah Trujillo
Santa Fe, N.M. — July 10, 2026 — The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision in State of New Mexico v. Judah Elijah Trujillo, which reversed the defendant’s first-degree murder conviction and remanded the case for resentencing.
While our office respects the authority of the New Mexico Supreme Court, we disagree with its decision and are disappointed by the outcome. Upon remand, we intend to ask the district court to impose the maximum sentence authorized under New Mexico law and will continue to advocate for accountability on behalf of the victim and surviving family members.
The Supreme Court’s decision highlights a recurring concern that extends well beyond any single appeal: the manner in which victims and their families are notified of appellate decisions. Family members learn of life-altering appellate rulings through media reports, social media, or inquiries from reporters before they hear from the victim advocates supporting them through the criminal justice process. District attorneys’ offices receive notice of these decisions through the same public email distribution lists as the media and general public, leaving prosecutors and victim advocates with no opportunity to notify families before the decisions become public.
“This issue is larger than any one case,” said District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. “Regardless of the outcome of an appeal, victims and their families deserve the dignity of learning about significant developments from the professionals who have supported them throughout the case not from a news headline or a reporter’s phone call. We hope this decision serves as an opportunity for a broader discussion about improving the appellate notification process and ensuring victims’ constitutional rights are fully respected.”
###
First Judicial District Attorney’s Office Responds to New Mexico Supreme Court Decision in State of New Mexico v. Judah Elijah Trujillo
Santa Fe, N.M. — July 10, 2026 — The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision in State of New Mexico v. Judah Elijah Trujillo, which reversed the defendant’s first-degree murder conviction and remanded the case for resentencing.
While our office respects the authority of the New Mexico Supreme Court, we disagree with its decision and are disappointed by the outcome. Upon remand, we intend to ask the district court to impose the maximum sentence authorized under New Mexico law and will continue to advocate for accountability on behalf of the victim and surviving family members.
Family members learn of life-altering appellate rulings through media reports, social media, or inquiries from reporters before they hear from the victim advocates supporting them through the criminal justice process. District attorneys’ offices receive notice of these decisions through the same public email distribution lists as the media and general public, leaving prosecutors and victim advocates with no opportunity to notify families before the decisions become public.
This issue is larger than any one case. Regardless of the outcome of an appeal, victims and their families deserve the dignity of learning about significant developments from the professionals who have supported them throughout the case—not from a news headline or a reporter’s phone call. We hope this decision serves as an opportunity for a broader discussion about improving the appellate notification process and ensuring victims’ constitutional rights are fully respected.
District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies