Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza apparently missed the deadline to pay a $600 fine that was part of his discipline for improperly interfering in a case involving a woman with whom he had a personal relationship.
Garza had until June 22 to pay the fine.
The Judicial Standards Commission filed a motion Monday with the New Mexico Supreme Court seeking an order to show cause. If the court issues an order, and Garza’s response doesn’t satisfy justices, they could hold him in contempt, suspend him until he pays the fine or take other action.
The high court has not yet responded to the commission’s motion.
Garza, in a signed filing before the high court, admitted last month to improperly involving himself in a drunken driving case against the woman. He admitted to contacting two other magistrate judges assigned to the case at different times to discuss it with them and, in at least one instance, asked one to set a low bond or no bond.
Garza’s punishment also included a formal reprimand, six months of supervised probation and formal mentorship.
Though Garza admitted to the charges, he seemed to back off his admission days after the high court disciplined him, telling the Las Cruces Sun-News that “I know the difference between wrong and right in my job and I had to admit something for economic reasons.”
He also said the discipline was light because “the facts were very convoluted.”
Garza is unopposed in his re-election bid this year.