For those of you following the Anamarie case , here's the latest. For background, check :
http://lowcarber.org/anamarie.html
Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Judge Denies Request for Tapes in Obese-Girl Case
By Patrick Armijo
Journal Staff Writer
The Albuquerque Journal and several other news organizations have been denied tapes of proceedings in the Anamarie Martinez-Regino case.
Outside a closed hearing Friday, Marty Esquivel, attorney for the news organizations, said Children's Court Judge Tommy Jewell denied his request for the tapes.
Esquivel said "no reason was given" by Jewell.
The news organizations have sought to overturn a gag order Jewell issued in a case that centers on a severely overweight 3-year-old child who was removed by the state from parental custody Aug. 25.
The state Children, Youth and Families Department claimed the child's obesity was not being handled properly by the parents, which had created a life-threatening situation. When she was taken from her parents, the child weighed 120 pounds and was 31/2 feet tall.
In September, when the case went before Jewell, he closed the courtroom to reporters and issued a gag order forbidding parties involved in the case from public comment about it.
Two weeks ago, the state and the girl's parents — Adela Martinez and Miguel Regino — came to an agreement calling for the return of the child to the parents. However, the gag order remains in place.
Friday's hearing was called by Jewell to get comments from parties about the news organizations' attempts to overturn the gag order through the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Martinez said an attorney for the Children, Youth and Families Department is arguing that Jewell no longer has jurisdiction to lift the gag order because it now is an issue before the state Supreme Court.
"I certainly think he has the power to lift or continue the gag order," Esquivel said outside the courtroom.
Peter Klages, an attorney representing the Children, Youth and Families Department, declined to comment on the hearing.
Also declining comment were Kari Converse, the attorney representing the interests of the child, and Troy Prichard, the attorney representing the parents.
Esquivel said Jewell questioned him about the conditions that led Prichard to give Esquivel an affidavit supporting the news organizations' contention that the gag order should be lifted.
"I just have to wonder out loud," Esquivel said, "if the family is facing retaliation for him (Prichard) speaking out against an improperly ordered gag order."
http://www.abqjournal.com/paperboy/...ews11-07-00.htm