It’s no secret that a number of judges from
When one district judge, two magistrate judges and two Las Cruces municipal judges were simultaneously embroiled in scandal a couple of years ago, a longtime politico from Santa Fe told me he would be tempted to believe the entire judiciary in Doña Ana County was corrupt, except for one thing: He knew Robert E. Robles, the chief judge of the county’s Third Judicial District Court, to be a man of integrity.
Robles has applied for the vacancy on the state Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Pamela B. Minzner. He would be an excellent choice.
This isn’t an endorsement. I generally don’t do those. But Robles is someone with whom I’ve worked for years and have watched act with the utmost integrity and fairness even as others around him fell from grace. And he’s the only of 15 applicants with whom I have a great deal of experience, so I wanted to share what I know.
Robles is the most well-respected judge among the county’s eight district judges, five magistrates and a handful of municipal judges in the incorporated communities. In our dealings, he has never deviated from the professionalism that has earned him that reputation.
While other judges, usually during off-the-record conversations, have delved into discussing with me situations they probably should not, Robles has never crossed that line. When I asked questions judicial ethics prohibited him from answering, he instead explained to me why he could not answer.
Such explanations gave me knowledge about judicial ethics that helped me navigate the sea of scandal that tainted the county’s judiciary during that tumultuous time.
Robles’ professionalism is matched by his kindness. When a former judge was suffering from an illness that required me, as a journalist, to explore whether the judge was fit to continue serving on the bench, the judge asked Robles to attend a meeting I requested. Robles’ presence was reassuring to the judge. He helped facilitate understanding and a resolution to the situation.
Robles has also been a strong advocate of open government. Several years ago, the Las Cruces Sun-News sued the City of
Though most believed the Open Meetings Act prohibited such action, “rolling quorums,” as they’re now called, had never been tested in court. Robles’ ruling that the city violated the act solidified the law regarding such actions.
In the criminal realm, Robles has presided over two recent, high-profile cases because he was the judge prosecutors and defense attorneys could agree would be fair. In a county where law enforcement is often tainted with allegations of partisan politics, Robles, an active Democrat, is one of the few who don’t face criticism that politics affects their decisions. In fact, Robles, who is held in high regard by members of his own party, is also well-respected by the Republican district attorney.
I’m certain there are other applicants whose integrity, knowledge and professionalism make them excellent candidates for the Supreme Court vacancy. What I know from experience is that the state’s highest court would benefit from the addition of Robles.