SANTA FE, N.M. — A judge in New Mexico has halted a federal death penalty case, citing the pinch of the U.S. government shutdown and a funding shortfall for specialized public defenders that stretches back to the summer.

The Trump administration in July announced plans to seek the death penalty for Labar Tsethlikai in connection with a string of kidnappings that involved sexual abuse and two deaths — a hallmark case in efforts to bring justice for missing and murdered individuals in Native American communities. The 52-year-old defendant from Zuni Pueblo has pleaded not guilty.

Death penalty cases are especially costly to prepare, and the delay in Tsethlikai's case provides an early warning about escalating impacts of the shutdown on the judiciary.

“If you want to pursue the death penalt

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