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

PAMELA D. SMITH: Supreme Court No. S-1-SC-36686, JSC Inquiry Nos. 2017-138 and 2017-139

On October 4, 2017, the Commission filed a Petition for Immediate Temporary Suspension without Pay concerning Sierra County Probate Court Judge Pamela D. Smith. A week later on October 11, 2017, the Commission filed a Motion to Accept Permanent Resignation from Judicial Office in Lieu of Further Disciplinary Proceedings. Later the same day, the Supreme Court issued an order granting … Read More