New Mexico Supreme Court Bars Taos Prosecutor from Practice
Cosme Ripol, who had more than 30 years of criminal law experience, was permanently disbarred following misconduct findings in three murder cases.
By Amanda Valdez ·
The New Mexico Supreme Court issued a unanimous order on Monday to permanently disbar Cosme Ripol, a prosecutor with the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Taos. The ruling took effect immediately, ending Ripol’s ability to practice law in the state after a formal review of his conduct in three criminal cases between 2022 and 2024.
The disciplinary process began when the state’s attorney disciplinary authorities examined specific actions Ripol took during these proceedings. A hearing committee for the Supreme Court Disciplinary Board later issued findings of fact and conclusions of law. In July, the board recommended permanent disbarment based on those findings.
The first case involved State v. Desiree Lensegrav, a murder prosecution. Disciplinary records alleged that Ripol introduced evidence that was not admissible and used inflammatory language toward the defendant. He repeatedly called Lensegrav a "bruja," the Spanish word for witch. A court later vacated Lensegrav’s murder conviction.
In State v. Daniel Chavez, another murder case, the review found that Ripol described the defendant as a "killer," a "macho man," and a "prowling mad dog." These characterizations were part of the basis for the misconduct allegations in that file.
The third case, State v. Cruz Castillo, resulted in a mistrial. Prosecutors accused Ripol of referring to evidence that a Taos District Court judge had previously ruled out of the record.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on October 13. Joseph Gonzales, the disciplinary counselor, argued in favor of disbarment. All five justices adopted the disciplinary board's findings and ordered the permanent disbarment.
Marcus Montoya, the 8th Judicial District Attorney, addressed the decision on Monday. He stated that prosecutors carry a unique responsibility to seek justice, which holds them to a higher standard than other lawyers. Montoya noted that even with more than thirty years of criminal law experience, improper tactics in the courtroom mean that standard is not met. He thanked Ripol for his decades of work as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor, calling the outcome an unfortunate end to his career.
Source: Albuquerque Journal
