Hernandez is an unincorporated community in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. Hernandez is about 5 miles northwest of Espanola on U.S. Routes 84/285. Hernandez has the ZIP code 87537. Covering 55 square miles, the ZIP Code Tabulation Area for ZIP code 87537 had a population of 2,492 at the 2000 census. The racial makeup of the city was 65.8% White, 0.3% African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 30.4% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 91.1% of the population. Hernandez is "a populated place located wholly or substantially outside the boundaries of any incorporated place or CDP with an authoritative common name recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey. " Hernandez is best known as the subject of a 1941 Ansel Adams photograph, "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico". A 1948 print of this photograph realized $609,600 at a Sotheby's New York auction in 2006. The previous record for a "Moonrise" print, set in 2002, was $136,000. Georgia O'Keeffe painted another church in Hernandez in 1931: "Another Church, Hernandez, New Mexico"

What is criminal defense law?

In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").

Answers to criminal defense law issues in New Mexico

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution says that you have a right to be free of unreasonable police searches and...

The general criteria for making an arrest is what is referred to as probable cause. Probable cause arises when there...

There are two different types of warrants that may be issued:

  • arrest warrants - an order issued by a...

The Miranda decision relates specifically to the rights of a criminal suspect after he has been detained by the...

Bail is typically set by a magistrate or a judge who considers the seriousness of the offense and the likelihood of...

Early in the course of a criminal proceeding, the defendant will be brought into court and the charges brought...

At any point during this process the defendant may plead guilty to the charge leveled against him or her. Likewise,...

Criminal offenses can be divided into two general categories:

  • ­felonies -- a crime for which a person...

The distinguishing feature of criminal law is the element of punishment. The purpose of criminal law is to punish...

There are several defenses that can be raised in a criminal case. The defenses listed here are a sampling of those...