New Mexico Supreme Court Removes McKinley County Magistrate Judge For Code Violations

The New Mexico Supreme Court issued an order on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, that permanently and immediately removed a McKinley County magistrate judge from the bench following findings that he violated provisions of the Judicial Code of Conduct. The court’s order enacted the removal without delay and classified the action as permanent.

The order was entered by the state’s highest judicial body and applied specifically to a magistrate judge serving in McKinley County. The court’s findings cited violations of the Judicial Code of Conduct as the basis for the disciplinary measure and directed that the judge’s service end at once.

Because the Supreme Court’s order removed the judge from the magistrate bench immediately, the judge’s pending assignments in McKinley County magistrate court ceased with the filing of the order on Feb. 25, 2026. The court’s action took effect the same day it was issued, leaving the magistrate seat vacated as of that date.

The New Mexico Supreme Court’s determination referenced provisions of the Judicial Code of Conduct as the standard breached by the judge. By ordering permanent removal, the court set aside the judge’s authority to preside over cases in McKinley County magistrate court and terminated the judge’s role under state judicial oversight.

The Feb. 25, 2026 order by the New Mexico Supreme Court concludes with immediate and permanent removal of the McKinley County magistrate judge based on the court’s findings of violations of the Judicial Code of Conduct. The action stands as a final directive from the Supreme Court affecting the composition of the magistrate bench in McKinley County.