Higher Ground

The New Mexico Supreme Court has approved stipulated discipline and imposed a public censure of a magistrate judge.

The judge had sought to intervene on behalf of his stepson, who was in custody. He engaged in an ex parte contact with the responsible judge and assured the judge that his stepson was not a flight risk.

In addition to the censure, he was suspended without pay for 90 days with 60 days deferred.

Also, he must complete, at his own expense, an online course offered by the National Judicial College titled Ethics and Judges: Reaching Higher Ground. (Mike Frisch)