Know Thy Judge, Know Thy Justice

In New Mexico we fixate on the egregious acts of our politicians and Judges only  when they're caught in the act--driving drunk, bailing friends out of jail, getting busted with coke and of course making ridiculous statements for the record. Of the judges who's actions have brought them into the limelight for official misconduct, the majority have been magistrates, elected at the local level and charged with presiding over minor cases. These judges are required to have little more than high school diplomas and no legal training to qualify for the office, however, they are the part of the justice system that we are most likely to encounter giving us good reason to be alarmed by the number who have been the subject of disciplinary action from the courts.

But what about those cases which don't necessarily merit disciplinary action but are non the less questionable and those situations which go unreported? To fully understand the scope of the situation and the challenges facing any person unfortunate enough to find themselves before a magistrate in a remote town, you need to read William Glaberson's 3 part feature in the New York Times on the injustices imposed in the tiny courts of rural N.Y., beginning with Broken Bench--This is Not America. Read it. Read it because it will remind you what good journalism is all about.

Comments

[george]

dont forget about magistrate judge wood from eddy county, he retired because he was being investigated, and judge Hector Pineda, roswell municipal jude, he was reprimanded last dec 2005 by the judicial standards commision.
Their are many more stores they get away with down here some daay they will get cought.