Get free answers to your Civil Rights legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am seeking help for my friend who should have been protected under overdose immunity, but his court-appointed attorney advised him to take a plea deal. Despite my friend bringing the immunity to the attorney's attention, and repeatedly raising it to the court, he was ignored. Subsequently,... View More 
I was gunned down at my apartment complex in front of multiple witnesses. The assailant fired an entire magazine at me. The detective in charge assured me he had everything handled, and even stated that the charge was reduced from attempted murder to battery with a deadly weapon to ensure... View More
What legal actions can I take if the defendant, who employed me for two years, called the police during my deposition, leading to my arrest due to false fraud charges they filed against me in August 2024? These charges were dismissed on April 17, 2025. The police forcibly removed me from my home,... View More
I want to file a lawsuit against CYFD for violating my 4th and 14th amendment rights and trafficking my children, which began in 2018. I am seeking to bring my children home and file a writ of review. I have not consulted with any legal professionals yet, and I'm unaware of any existing... View More
I'm currently involved in a CYFD case in New Mexico where my children were removed due to an anonymous report claiming our home was dirty. I still have custody but only get visitation for one hour and a half a week due to short staffing. This has been a 3-year battle that has significantly... View More
I received a job offer for a teaching position in New Mexico. Can the employer withdraw the job offer due to arrest records in my background check, even though the arrest did not lead to a conviction and is not related to teaching?
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answered on Apr 16, 2025
In New Mexico, employers are generally prohibited from using arrest records that did not lead to convictions when making employment decisions. This means that if your arrest did not result in a conviction, it should not be considered by your prospective employer. The state's "Ban the... View More
Why don't special commissioners have to provide reasons for denying a motion to dismiss with prejudice when there is evidence, such as text messages and photos, showing the petitioner's reasons for an order of protection were false in the 2nd Judicial Court in Albuquerque, NM?
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answered on Apr 7, 2025
When a motion to dismiss with evidence is denied in a court like the 2nd Judicial Court in Albuquerque, NM, it can be frustrating, especially if the evidence seems clear. In some cases, special commissioners are not required to provide a detailed written explanation when denying motions. The court... View More
I am seeking legal advice on how to protect my 44-year-old son, who has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident in his childhood and is now in the early stages of dementia. My mother and sister are coercing him and administering medication without legal rights such as custody or power of... View More
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answered on Apr 1, 2025
Your situation involves complex issues of adult guardianship and medical decision-making rights. In California, you should consider petitioning for conservatorship of your son, which would grant you legal authority over his personal care, medical decisions, and possibly financial matters. This... View More
My 44-year-old son, who has a TBI and is experiencing seizures, was coerced into making my sister his payee. My mother and sister have financially exploited him, falsely reported to SSA that I am dead, and manipulated him against me, restricting his contact with me. Despite reporting these issues... View More
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answered on Mar 28, 2025
You're facing a challenging situation with your son's care and finances. To address this, start by contacting New Mexico Adult Protective Services at 1-866-654-3219 to report the suspected financial exploitation, as they're equipped to investigate abuse cases involving vulnerable... View More
During a police search warrant intended for a specific person's phones, my deceased sister's phone was seized at home even though her name wasn't mentioned in the warrant. I believe this is an invasion of her privacy. What actions can be taken to address this issue, retrieve the... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
When police execute a search warrant, they must generally stay within the scope of what's specifically described in the warrant. Your sister's phone likely shouldn't have been seized if her name wasn't mentioned and the warrant only covered the other person's devices. This... View More
My husband, who has been in jail for four years, took a plea agreement after being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon on a police officer, aggravated DWI, and aggravated fleeing. He maintains he was a passenger, not the driver. The public defender pressured him to accept a plea by... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating and concerning. When someone accepts a plea without seeing evidence or discovery materials, and under pressure about facing a life sentence, this raises serious questions about effective representation. The fact that your husband maintained he... View More
I was pulled over in my own driveway due to expired registration and then arrested because of a warrant for failure to appear on a traffic violation. Despite my objection, a K9 unit performed a free air sniff on my vehicle. Although the K9 alerted, the officer did not conduct the search until after... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
The legality of towing your vehicle from your own driveway involves several factors worth examining. While officers can typically impound vehicles following arrests when there's no one else to drive them, the fact this occurred on your private property raises important questions about whether... View More
In New Mexico, what criteria must an officer meet to lawfully request an individual's identification? I was walking to my home around 6:30 p.m., and an officer asked for my ID without giving me any reason, indication of a law being violated, or mentioning any suspicious activity. There were no... View More
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answered on Mar 23, 2025
In New Mexico, police officers generally need reasonable suspicion that you have committed, are committing, or are about to commit a crime before they can lawfully detain you and demand identification. This standard comes from both federal case law (Terry v. Ohio) and New Mexico state court... View More
My daughter has been serving a 9-year sentence, with an additional 9 years suspended, despite her medical conditions. In 2022, she felt pressured to sign a plea deal by a new public defender, who threatened a 40-year sentence if she went to trial. Due to government shutdowns and her health issues,... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
I understand the difficulty you're facing with your daughter's situation. While appeals after plea deals can be challenging, there may still be options worth exploring based on the circumstances you've described.
Post-conviction relief might be possible through a habeas... View More
My mother, who has dementia, is currently under the care of a nursing home, and her power of attorney has been negligent, preventing her son, who is her favorite, from having any contact with her. The nursing home has made false claims that the son is discourteous and disruptive, but we have a... View More
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answered on Mar 16, 2025
If your mother lacks the capacity to terminate the POA herself, your only option is to go to court to get a guardian appointed for your mother.
I received a text message from someone who said they were going to "pull up and shoot me," which I consider a threat. We have had problems before, but I thought our issues were resolved until now. This is the second time she has threatened me, and I have witnesses to the threats.
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
This is an extremely serious situation that requires immediate attention. Threats of violence, especially those specifically mentioning shooting, should never be taken lightly. You should contact local law enforcement right away to report these threats and provide them with copies of the text... View More
I have been experiencing anxiety and stress for years due to missing out on participating in chess activities in New Mexico. A nationwide organization stated that one of their goals is to promote chess throughout America, with affiliate state organizations tasked to carry out this goal. However,... View More
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answered on Mar 26, 2025
You're facing a challenging situation with these chess organizations, and your frustration is understandable after years of trying to engage with them without success.
While organizations may state goals like promoting chess nationwide, these statements typically represent... View More
I want to know about the legal consequences of lying about one's marital status to gain consent for sexual intercourse. How does the law interpret such fraudulent misrepresentation in these scenarios, and what specific consequences might there be in my location?
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answered on Apr 1, 2025
Under California law, lying about marital status to obtain sexual consent operates in a legal gray area that courts have addressed inconsistently. While California Penal Code generally does not explicitly criminalize obtaining consent through misrepresentation of marital status as sexual assault,... View More
In the State of New Mexico, as a registered sex offender who is not on probation or parole and updates registration details every 90 days, am I legally required to report a vacation trip out of state that lasts 4 days and 3 nights? I reported a similar trip to Colorado in June 2024. Could this... View More
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answered on Apr 1, 2025
Under New Mexico law, if you were convicted after July 1, 2013, you are required to report changes to your living arrangements or temporary location within five business days of the change. If your conviction predates July 1, 2013, the reporting requirement would be within ten days. This applies to... View More
In New Mexico, I had a report filed against me with Adult Protective Services (APS), which was substantiated. When I requested the investigation report over the phone, APS denied my request, stating they do not provide them. I am unaware of any specific laws in New Mexico regarding access to these... View More
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answered on Mar 27, 2025
To obtain your APS investigation report in New Mexico, you can submit a formal written request under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) to the Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Your request should include your name, contact information, and a detailed description of the records... View More
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