Opinion ID: 2612728
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Restraints Placed on Children's Court Attorney.

Text: Judge Martinez issued an order in a juvenile case that had the effect of removing the district attorney as juvenile attorney in that specific case and in all future juvenile cases, and appointing private attorneys to act in that capacity, with compensation to the appointed attorneys to be paid out of the district attorney's budget. The district attorney filed for a writ of prohibition, and this Court issued its alternative writ of prohibition restraining the judge from carrying out his orders. However, the Judge later issued an order appointing a private attorney to act as special children's court attorney in a case, and directing the district attorney to compensate the private attorney from his budget. The order was issued without notice or hearing, and the district attorney again filed a petition for writ of prohibition, which was granted by this Court. At one point in the proceedings the Judge found the district attorney guilty of contempt and had him placed in jail. We later made the alternative writs of prohibition against Judge Martinez permanent in both cases. The district attorney in each judicial district is the ex-officio children's court attorney for that district by virtue of statute. Section 32-1-5, N.M.S.A. 1978 (Repl.Pamp. 1981). Judge Martinez was therefore without authority to direct the juvenile probation office to refrain from referring juvenile cases to the district attorney without Judge Martinez's prior written consent, to relieve the district attorney as children's court attorney, and to appoint private attorneys to act and to be compensated out of the district attorney's budget. The language contained in our alternative writ of prohibition issued on June 16, 1981 is clear and unambiguous. Judge Martinez was obligated to act in conformity therewith. The evidence is clear and convincing that Judge Martinez knowingly and intentionally misused the authority of his office to effect a purpose beyond his legitimate authority, which constituted bad faith, malicious abuse of judicial power, and thus, willful misconduct in office.