The New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission is the ethics commission for the judicial branch of the state government. It is charged with investigating allegations of misconduct and disability against New Mexico state, county, and municipal judges within Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution. The Commission does not have jurisdiction over attorneys, federal judges, candidates for judicial office who are not already judges, or over administrative judges, hearing officers, special masters, or any judges or hearing officers of another branch of New Mexico State Government.
Complaint forms may be requested from the Commission office, or you may download the complaint form in PDF format from this site. An informational brochure about the Commission, the limits of its jurisdiction, and its process are available by clicking the “Commission Brochure” button. Complaints must be made on the Commission’s form and are required to be signed and notarized before mailing to the Commission. Delivery of complaints via FedEx, UPS, or hand-delivery is not necessary and may result in our delayed receipt; instead, submission by US Mail is preferred. FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, ALL ITEMS INCLUDING ENVELOPES OR PACKAGES LEFT UNATTENDED AT THE COMMISSION’S OFFICE OR BUILDING WILL BE TREATED AS SUSPICIOUS AND DESTROYED UNOPENED.
Electronic Communications
Long-standing policy limits Commission staff interactions with the public to mail, telephone, or in-person contact. We do not accept emailed or faxed correspondence with the public, complainants, or others outside the agency. The Commission does not accept complaint forms via email or fax because original signatures and notarization are required on complaints.
Confidentiality
Article VI, Section 32 of the New Mexico Constitution mandates that “[a]ll papers filed with, and all matters before, the Commission are confidential. The filing of papers and giving of testimony before the commission or its masters is privileged in any action for defamation, except that the record filed by the commission in the supreme court continues privileged but, upon its filing, loses its confidential character, and a writing which was privileged prior to its filing with the commission or its masters does not lose its privilege by the filing.” Confidentiality requirements do not apply to third-party complainants.
The Supreme Court’s files and hearings are accessible to the public, subject to the rules and orders of the Court.
A complainant’s name may be disclosed to the judge who is the subject of the complaint. A complainant may be called to participate and/or testify in Commission proceedings.
Commission staff cannot respond to requests for information regarding a complaint or any other proceeding before the Commission. However, a complainant will receive written notice of the ultimate outcome of the complaint, subject to the limits of confidentiality.
Disclaimer
The New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission does not provide legal advice, advisory opinions, or explain court or general legal procedures other than the Commission’s process. Your legal questions should be reviewed with an attorney or through your own research.
Although some of the information contained on this web site addresses legal matters relating to disciplinary proceedings, it is only intended to assist the public in obtaining a general understanding of the judicial disciplinary process. The underlying facts concerning every grievance are different, and the material contained on this web site is not intended to be used to definitively assess a judge’s conduct.
This web site contains links to other web sites. The Commission does not assume any responsibility for the content found on those sites.