The Line Opinion Panel on Virgin Galactic, the 2022 Gubernatorial Elections and Our Overwhelmed Courts | 7.16.21

New Mexico is aflutter with news of the first fully crewed Virgin Galactic flight from Spaceport America. Sir Richard Branson’s high-profile jaunt into weightlessness on July 11 drew massive attention to the purpose-built New Mexico facility. Will it soon also bring money? The Line opinion panel looks at successes and challenges as the state seeks to leverage the Virgin Galactic spotlight. Although the Republican gubernatorial primary is a long way off - and the challenge to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham even further away – the pool of GOP hopefuls is growing. The Line opinion panel explores Rebecca Dow’s entry into the Republican race for governor. Dow has been seen by some political minds as a frontrunner. The group debates what that means this early in the race. The Line opinion panel looks at the impact of tough-on-crime policy decisions for the state court system. Public defenders from southern New Mexico’s 12thJudicial District say they can’t prepare an effective defense for each of the nearly 300 felony cases scheduled for trial over an upcoming four-week period. Do policymakers need to rethink what it means to be “tough on crime”? Host: Gene Grant Line Guests: Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group PR Julie Ann Grimm, Santa Fe Reporter, editor and publisher Laura Sanchez, attorney