Voucher Censured

The New Mexico Supreme Court recently issued a public censure to a district court judge who

admits that on or about June 19, 8 2014, [he] initiated ex parte communications with Grant County Magistrate  Judge Maurine Laney – concerning a case that was pending before Judge Laney – in an attempt to personally vouch for the character of the defendant and obtain special treatment for the defendant…

 The judge agreed to submit to a formal mentorship and unsupervised probation.

In an unrelated matter, the court publicly censured another judge for improper ex parte communication in a civil matter. (Mike Frisch)