Prosecutors Section
Past Award Criteria and RecipientsPrevious awards included the five categories below: Prosecutor of the Year: The nominee must have five or more years of full-time prosecution experience. The nomination should address the individual’s outstanding characteristics, prosecution history, work with the public and contributions to the quality of prosecution and the image of prosecutors. Law Enforcement Prosecutor: This nomination should address the support and assistance the nominee has provided to law enforcement agencies and his or her commitment of time in assisting law enforcement. Community Service Prosecutor: This nomination should address the service the nominee has provided to the community and the results of those efforts; e.g., volunteering at rape crisis centers, nursing homes, youth mentorship organizations, etc. Legal Impact Prosecutor: Along with the nominee’s outstanding character, this nomination should address the significant impact that resulted from the nominee’s efforts in criminal prosecution(s) and the significant and positive impact or effect on the law. Rookie Prosecutor of the Year: The nominee must have been prosecuting for no more than two years. The nomination should address the nominee’s dedication to criminal prosecution and commitment to making prosecution a career. The nomination process is made available on this site and nominees are presented to a selection committee. Recipients of past awards are listed below. New awards will recognize prosecutorial excellence in the following categories:
Child Abuse (Homer Campbell Award) DWI Drugs White Collar Domestic Violence Violent Crimes (excluding domestic violence and child abuse cases)
In each category, the new criteria includes the following:
2011 Prosecutors Section Award Winners -
Child Abuse (Homer Campbell Award)
DWI
Assistant Attorney General Donna Bevaqua-Young received the award for DWI prosecution. She has worked in the field for many years and, in addition to prosecuting high profile DWI cases all over the state, has worked tirelessly to educate and train police officers and prosecutors in New Mexico in an effort to help eradicate the problem of DWI. She has been instrumental in developing responses to the many legal challenges officers and prosecutors have faced in this area in recent years.
Drugs
Ninth Judicial Deputy District Attorney Ben Cross was recognized in the category of drug prosecutions. Cross has successfully prosecuted hundreds of drug cases during his career and has established himself as a community prosecutor working with groups such as the juvenile justice program, drug court, and the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s ACT program (Abolish Chronic Truancy).
White Collar
Third Judicial Deputy District Attorney Michael R. Heitz was recognized in the category of white collar crimes for his high level of competency and dedication to the prosecution of complex business-related crimes and his training of law enforcement officers and new attorneys in this area.
Domestic Violence
Third Judicial Assistant District Attorney Robert A. Cabello was recognized in the category of domestic violence for his unwavering advocacy for victims of domestic violence and his professional approach to prosecution of domestic abusers.
Violent Crimes (excluding domestic violence and child abuse cases)
Ninth Judicial Deputy District Attorney Brian Stover was recognized in the category of violent crime prosecution. Stover has been a prosecutor for 12 years and over the last three years has primarily spent his time prosecuting violent felonies. Since 2008, Stover has successfully obtained convictions in four murder cases in Clovis. Despite his heavy caseload, he also participates in many community activities and has a profound commitment to serving the public.
2010 Prosecutors Section Award Winners - Prosecutor of the Year Susana Martinez 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Prosecutor Award Leslie Fernandez 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office Community Service Prosecutor Award Rick Wellborn 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office Legal Impact Prosecutor Award Nicole Moss 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Rookie Prosecutor of the Year Beth Watson 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office 2009 Prosecutors Section Award Winners - Prosecutor of the Year Law Enforcement Prosecutor Award Community Service Prosecutor Award Legal Impact Prosecutor Award Rookie Prosecutor of the Year 2008 Prosecutors Section Award Winners - Prosecutor of the Year David R. Foster 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Prosecutor Award Jack E. Burkhead 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Community Service Prosecutor Award Mary A. Gueldenzoph 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Legal Impact Prosecutor Award Michael J. Lewis 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Rookie Prosecutor of the Year Amanda Lucero 5th Judicial District Attorney's Office 2007 Prosecutors Section Award Winners - Prosecutor of the Year Francesca Martinez Estevez 6th Judicial District Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Prosecutor Award Sylvia M. Martinez 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Community Service Prosecutor Award Marguerite Carr 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office Legal Impact Prosecutor Award Margot E. Ballon 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Rookie Prosecutor of the Year Celeste DeMars 12th Judicial District Attorney's Office 2006 Prosecutors Section Award Winners - Prosecutor of the Year Richard E. Bowman 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Prosecutor Award Matthew E. Chandler 9th Judicial District Attorney's Office Community Service Prosecutor Award Susan E. Page 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office Legal Impact Prosecutor Award Niki Brito 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Rookie Prosecutor of the Year Alissa N. Berger 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office 2005 Prosecutors Section Award Winners - Prosecutor of the Year Peter A. "Pete" Ross 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Prosecutor Lifetime Achievement Award Elliott R. Guttmann 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Community Service Prosecutor Award Philip Todd Heisey 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Legal Impact Prosecutor Award Richard E. Bowman 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Rookie Prosecutor of the Year William J. Moon 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office |
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