12/03/18 NELLIE SORIANO: Supreme Court Case No. S-1-SC-37346, JSC Inquiry Nos. 2016-081 and 2016-086

The Supreme Court granted the Commission’s October 29, 2018 Petition to Accept Stipulation to Permanent Resignation from Judicial Office in Lieu of Further Disciplinary Proceedings concerning Anthony Municipal Court Judge Nellie Soriano.  The Court ordered that the permanent resignation be effective at 5:00 p.m. on December 3, 2018.  To download a copy of the Commission’s petition click here, and for … Read More

11/19/18 Debt Collected in STEVEN G. RYAN, Supreme Court Case No. 33,369, JSC Inquiry Nos. 1996-006, 1996-060 & 1996-065

On November 19, 2018, former Las Cruces Municipal Court Judge Steven G. Ryan satisfied the $958.66 outstanding judgment lien including interest which the Commission recorded after Ryan failed to repay costs ordered by the Supreme Court. Ryan resigned in the 1990s upon stipulated agreement with the Commission that was approved and ordered by the Supreme Court. In 2012 on motion … Read More

10/29/18 JOE I. DOMINGUEZ: Supreme Court No. S-1-SC-36868, JSC Inquiry No. 2018-019

On October 29, 2018, the Supreme Court issued an order granting the Commission’s Petition to Accept Permanent Resignation in Lieu of Further Disciplinary Proceedings concerning Hon. Joe I. Dominguez, Tucumcari Municipal Court Judge.  The Commission had filed the petition under seal as required by Supreme Court rules on September 6, 2018.  As posted below, following his arrest for DWI the Commission … Read More

5/10/18 Supreme Court grants Commission’s Petition for Writ of Prohibition and Emergency Stay

On April 9, 2018, the Commission petitioned the New Mexico Supreme Court to issue a Writ of Prohibition and Emergency Stay, No. S-1-SC-36879, concerning a civil complaint filed in the Eleventh Judicial District Court on January 8, 2018 styled, Honorable Trudy Reed-Chase, et al. v. New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission, No. D-1116-CV-2018-19-3, which sought to obtain materials which may be … Read More

JOE I. DOMINGUEZ: Supreme Court No. S-1-SC-36868, JSC Inquiry No. 2018-019

On February 6, 2018, the Commission filed a Petition for Immediate Temporary Suspension concerning Hon. Joe I. Dominguez, Tucumcari Municipal Court Judge, the day following his arrest for DWI.  On February 14, 2018, Judge Dominguez stipulated to the temporary suspension, which the Commission filed with the Court.  On February 22, 2018, the Supreme Court granted the motion, accepted the stipulation … Read More

HENRY T. CASTANEDA: Supreme Court No. S-1-SC-35842, JSC Inquiry No. 2016-020

On February 12, 2018, the Supreme Court issued an order adopting the Commission’s findings of fact and conclusions of law that were filed with the Commisison’s Petition for Permanent Removal from Judicial Office.  The Court also accepted Castaneda’s resignation, which he tendered while awaiting the Supreme Court’s hearing on the Commission’s petition for his removal, and ordered that he be … Read More

LAWRENCE D. MCCLAIN: Supreme Court No. S-1-SC-36777, JSC Inquiry No. 2017-142

On December 4, 2017, the Commission filed a Petition to Accept Permanent Resignation from Judicial Office in Lieu of Further Disciplinary Proceedings concerning Sandoval County Probate Court Judge Lawrence D. McClain.  On December 18, 2017, the Supreme Court granted the petition, ordered that McClain’s resignation be effective at 5:00 p.m. the same day, and permanently barred him from holding judicial … Read More

WARREN G. WALTON: Supreme Court No. S-1-SC-36763, JSC Inquiry Nos. 2016-101, 2016-139, 2017-018, 2017-041 & 2017-053

On November 22, 2017, the Commission filed a Petition to Accept Stipulation Agreement and Consent to discipline with the Supreme Court concerning Colfax County Magistrate Judge Warren G. Walton. On December 18, 2017, the Supreme Court granted the Commission’s petition and ordered the stipulated discipline: three (3) weeks suspension from office without pay, imposition of which deferred on successful completion … Read More