judge martin gonzales
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Appeals court, for third time, confirms new trial necessary for Alamosa County judge’s public trial violation
Colorado’s second-highest court confirmed for the third time last week that an Alamosa County judge violated a defendant’s constitutional right to a public trial, which requires the reversal of his convictions. The unusual number of opinions in Gilberto Andres Montoya’s appeal, and the shifting rationale for why a new trial is necessary, stems in part…
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Alamosa County judge violated public trial right, prompting reversal of convictions
An Alamosa County judge closed his physical courtroom to the public without documenting his reasons for doing so, prompting Colorado’s second-highest court on Thursday to reverse the defendant’s convictions and order a new trial. In reaching its decision, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeals pointed to a recent ruling from the appellate court that recognized…
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Alamosa County judge violated public trial right, prompting reversal of convictions
An Alamosa County judge closed his physical courtroom to the public without documenting his reasons for doing so, prompting Colorado’s second-highest court on Thursday to reverse the defendant’s convictions and order a new trial. In reaching its decision, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeals pointed to a recent ruling from the appellate court that recognized…
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Appeals court rebuffs Alamosa County judge for flippant denial of sentence reduction
An Alamosa County judge’s single-sentence explanation denying a defendant’s request for a sentence reduction – that it was “not well taken” – was itself not well taken by Colorado’s second-highest court. Prosecutors originally charged Desiree Lee Espinoza with multiple serious offenses, including attempted murder and assault. She pleaded guilty to kidnaping and received a 16-year prison sentence…