Opinion ID: 902298
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: {2} Article VI, Section 32 of the New Mexico Constitution, which created the Judicial Standards Commission, provides that “any justice, judge or magistrate of any court may be disciplined or removed for willful misconduct in office.” That constitutional provision vests this Court with the ultimate responsibility of reviewing recommendations of the 1 Commission, determining whether a judge has committed willful misconduct, and imposing discipline that we find “just and proper.” {3} Pursuant to this Court’s responsibility under Article VI, Section 3 of the New Mexico Constitution to exercise “superintending control over all inferior courts,” we have promulgated a Code of Judicial Conduct, Rules 21-100 to -406 NMRA, that “establishes standards for the ethical conduct of judges and judicial candidates” requiring that judges “aspire at all times to conduct that ensures the greatest possible public confidence in their independence, impartiality, integrity, and competence.” Id. pmbl. (2)-(3). While violations of Code provisions are not automatic grounds for judicial discipline, they provide “some proof of what constitutes appropriate judicial conduct.” In re Martinez, 99 N.M. 198, 204, 656 P.2d 861, 867 (1982) (ordering suspension of a judge for willful misconduct in office). {4} The Commission and Respondent have stipulated to the following facts. Respondent’s stepson, Albert Hernandez, was a party in a child-support enforcement proceeding assigned to Seventh Judicial District Court Judge Matthew Reynolds. In August 2012, after Mr. Hernandez was jailed for nonpayment of support, Respondent, who had no official role in the case, placed a telephone call to Judge Reynolds, stating that Mr. Hernandez was not a flight risk and requesting that Judge Reynolds reduce Mr. Hernandez’s bond or let him out of jail. As a result of the ex parte communication from Respondent, Judge Reynolds recused himself from Mr. Hernandez’s case. {5} Upon learning of the incident, the Commission initiated a preliminary investigation and requested a written explanation from Respondent for the phone call. Respondent explained in a letter that he placed the call “to advise Judge Reynolds that Albert Hernandez was not a flight risk and that [Respondent] would personally make sure he made his court date.” Respondent also stated that he recognized that his phone call created an appearance of impropriety and promised to comply with any remedial action taken by the Commission. {6} After receiving Respondent’s letter, the Commission filed a notice of formal proceedings against Respondent, alleging in three counts that the phone call to Judge Reynolds was (1) an ex parte communication in Mr. Hernandez’s child-support enforcement case, (2) an abuse of the prestige of Respondent’s judicial office by attempting to gain favorable treatment for Mr. Hernandez, and (3) an abuse of the prestige of Respondent’s judicial office by vouching for the character of Mr. Hernandez. The Commission also alleged that each of the three counts violated specific provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct and constituted willful misconduct in office. {7} Respondent obtained counsel and answered the Commission’s notice, admitting to the conduct and the violations alleged by the Commission. He and the Commission then entered into the stipulation agreement and consent to discipline (Agreement) in which Respondent acknowledged that the telephone call to Judge Reynolds amounted to willful misconduct and violated Rules 21-101 NMRA (requiring compliance with the law), 21-102 NMRA (promoting confidence in the judiciary), 21-103 NMRA (avoiding abuse of the 2 prestige of judicial office), 21-204(B)-(C) NMRA (avoiding external influences on judicial conduct), 21-206(A) NMRA (ensuring the right to be heard), 21-209(A) NMRA (avoiding ex parte communications), 21-210(A) NMRA (prohibiting statements on pending and impending cases), and 21-303 NMRA (prohibiting service as a character witness). Respondent also agreed that his misconduct caused Judge Reynolds to disqualify himself from Mr. Hernandez’s case. {8} As stipulated discipline, Respondent agreed to (1) enroll in and successfully complete, at his own expense, the National Judicial College’s online course, Ethics and Judging: Reaching Higher Ground, (2) receive a public censure, to be published in the New Mexico Bar Bulletin, (3) undergo formal mentorship with supervised probation for the remainder of his term in office, and (4) accept a suspension without pay for ninety days, with sixty days deferred on the condition that he successfully complete his probation. {9} The Commission petitioned this Court for acceptance of the Agreement. We granted the petition and issued our order accepting the terms of the Agreement but conditioning the deferral of sixty days of Respondent’s ninety-day suspension on his successful compliance with all of the terms of the Agreement, not just with the terms of his probation. See Rule 27401(A)(3) NMRA (“The Supreme Court, in its discretion and under such conditions as it may specify, may . . . impose the discipline recommended by the commission or any other greater or lesser discipline that it deems appropriate under the circumstances . . . .”). Publication of this Opinion constitutes the public censure component of Respondent’s discipline.