Judge halts death penalty case in New Mexico due to federal shutdown
October 24, 2025
A judge in New Mexico halted legal proceedings in a federal death penalty case because the U.S. government shutdown is impeding the defendant’s right to legal representation. The recent order temporarily stays the prosecution of 52-year-old Labar Tsethlikai in a string of kidnappings involving sexual abuse and at least two deaths. The case is a centerpiece of efforts to bring justice in cases of missing and murdered individuals in Native American communities. Death penalty cases including Tsethlikai’s are especially costly to defend and provide an early warning about escalating impacts of the government shutdown on the judiciary.