Letter to the Editor:
The general public has lost trust in the judicial system and how the administration of
justice is supposed to be administered here in Taos County and throughout the land.
The following are my concerns with the system and how I was threatened by Judge
Shannon when I went before the court as a pro so litigant hoping to be heard based on
the merits of my case. However, I was extremely disappointed with how Judge
Shannon treated me disrespectfully and even threatened me in his courtroom. Not only
dismissing my case, but also he is abusing his authority by his statements. “Mr. Tafoya,
you have to learn to respect me and my staff. Mr. Tafoya, me and you are going in а
locked room in my office after this hearing and look each other eyeball to eyeball.” He
dismissed my case and my case was never heard. This type of behavior from a District
Court judge is unwarranted, unprofessional, and uncalled for.
I retired from te military after serving my country faithfully for 37 years to uphold the
sanctity of our constitutional rights and the freedoms that we all want and are entitled
to as Americans. One being due process, which I was denied.
We, as constituents of all public bodies, should request of the legislative body to
address such extended term limits on all public officials, and to eliminate the retention
system for all judges, and go back to the election system for each term, where the
public may have a voice.
I encourage anyone who has also had your constitutional rights violated in any way to
contact the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission and file your complaints against
any judge who violates your rights or is abusing their authority. The NMJSC is located
at 6200 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 340, Albuquerque, NM 87110-4159. Their phone
number is (505) 222-9353, and their website is www.nmjsc.org. Please do not hesitate
to contact them if you have any complaint against any judge. Use your voice. You
matter.
Respectfully,
Louis Tafoya
