Gallup Mother to Testify Against McKinley County DA Bernadine Martin

A Gallup mother testified in the New Mexico Supreme Court on Feb 24, 2026, alleging that the McKinley County District Attorney’s office under Bernadine Martin improperly handled and, in some instances, dismissed serious criminal matters. Her testimony puts the embattled DA’s prosecutorial decisions squarely before the state’s highest court and raises new questions for victims and families in Gallup and across McKinley County.

The proceeding stems from formal challenges to actions taken by the McKinley County DA’s office. Court filings and the hearing record focus on a pattern of case dispositions that critics say deprived victims of full legal recourse. The mother’s appearance in Santa Fe on Feb 24 added a firsthand account to those allegations; she traveled from Gallup to place her testimony on the official record.

Bernadine Martin, who holds the elected office of McKinley County District Attorney, faces scrutiny over how her office processed specific criminal matters. The mother’s testimony described instances in which charges were dismissed or otherwise handled in ways she and other complainants contend were improper, contributing to a sense among affected families that county prosecutorial practice requires review.

Local advocates and some family members in Gallup have campaigned for accountability and for clearer standards in how serious charges are prosecuted by McKinley County. The Supreme Court proceeding that included the mother’s Feb 24 testimony may determine whether those concerns merit further judicial oversight or remedies. The court’s consideration now turns on the full evidentiary record submitted by complainants and by the DA’s office.

With the mother’s testimony now part of the court file, the New Mexico Supreme Court will weigh legal arguments and evidence before issuing any ruling. The outcome could affect how the McKinley County District Attorney’s office handles future cases and shape expectations for victims seeking redress in Gallup and throughout the county.