Brett Phelps

Brett is running to be the next District Attorney for New Mexico’s Fourth Judicial District, an office never held by someone from Mora County, where Brett lives with his wife. When Brett was a teenager he was arrested for marijuana possession. It was the sense of hopelessness he felt going through the legal system that made him want to become a lawyer. Now, as a contract public defender, he represents people in similar situations, but without the privilege that he had as a teen. And seeing how his community’s most vulnerable people are treated by the criminal legal system is what made Brett want to run for District Attorney.

As a contract public defender and Mora County attorney, he sees the issues facing his community every day. He has handled hundreds of felony cases, including attempted murder, armed robberies, drug trafficking, and auto burglary. This experience has shown him that our criminal legal system is broken. He sees clients struggling with mental illness and substance abuse going to prison when what they need is treatment. He sees families being separated and children left without parents. Justice is not being served. As District Attorney, Brett’s top priority is to make the Fourth Judicial District a safer place for everyone to live, work, and raise their families. He plans to achieve that goal by increasing access to treatment, using more diversion programs and other prosecution alternatives, and restoring faith in the District Attorney’s Office by treating everyone fairly under the law.