Miller-Byrnes was issued a formal reprimand in 2004 after falsely stating during a radio interview that no complaints had been filed against her with the commission. She was also disciplined in January for calling a city prosecutor a “smart ass” during a 2004 interview with a newspaper reporter.
That comment was part of a dispute between the municipal judges and city attorney’s office that exploded in 2004 when the city’s two judges wrote a letter to the Las Cruces Sun-News alleging incompetence by police and prosecutors.
After the letter and Miller-Byrnes’ separate comment about the prosecutor were published, the city attorney’s office filed a complaint with the commission, which asked the high court to discipline the judges. The court dismissed the complaint related to the letter, but chastised Miller-Byrnes for the “smart ass” comment.
Key articles:
• Aug. 10: Court: City doesn’t have to reimburse municipal judges for defense of ethical complaint
• Aug. 2: City judges won’t be forced off criminal cases because of lawsuit, Robles rules