The Attorney General of New Mexico, Gary King, may or may not appeal the ruling of Judge Nan G. Nash of Albuquerque’s 2nd Judicial District Court.
In last week’s ruling, Judge Nash found that terminally ill patients do have the right to aid in dying, and that “such deaths are not considered ‘suicide’ under New Mexico’s Assisted Suicide Statute.” Leave it to a lawyer to argue that suicide is not suicide or what the meaning of is, is.
AG King apparently began to wrestle with the idea of an appeal after Santa Fe Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan urged the action during a breakfast with lawmakers.
King, who is running for governor, stated, “The thoughts of the Catholic Church are very influential in New Mexico policy.”
I guess the chief law enforcement officer of the state of New Mexico must be “influenced” when deciding to act in his elected office. Most Attorney General’s might act on the oath of office they took, to bring clarity to the law.
As with many of the recent court rulings, the judges are being allowed to go unchallenged in most cases, as if theirs is the final word.
I am a little pessimistic as to the motivations of Gary King, but it seems to me that he should uphold the law not pander to certain groups to seek another elected office.
