Robert E. Robles
N.M. Court of Appeals Judge Robert E. Robles was arrested early Wednesday in Albuquerque on a charge of aggravated drunken driving, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting.
From the newspaper:
“Robles was pulled over at 1:15 a.m. on the 5000 block of Jefferson NE in Albuquerque, according to Albuquerque Police Department Officer Robert Gibbs. Robles had a .20 breath-alcohol concentration, about two and a half times the legal limit indicating intoxication, which is .08. He was charged with aggravated drunken driving and reckless driving, Gibbs said, and processed by the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center before being released on his own recognizance.”
Robles was born in Albuquerque but spent 30 years in Las Cruces before being appointed to the Court of Appeals by then-Gov. Bill Richardson in 2008. The 60-year-old Democrat’s time in Las Cruces included almost 18 years as a district court judge.
As a district judge, Robles presided over some high-profile criminal cases, and also made a ruling that set the legal precedent that “rolling quorums” – individual discussions of public policy by a majority of members of a board outside of public meetings – are a violation of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act.
Robles was one of the most respected judges in Las Cruces during his time here – notable in part because the local judiciary was tainted by numerous scandals involving other judges. When he was up for election last year, Robles talked about ethics in an interview with NMPolitics.net.
From that article:
“Robles said judges get on the front page of the newspaper for one of two reasons: Either ‘they did something really, really bad’ or they are presiding over a high-profile case.
“‘Having lived in that glass house for 20 years, I’m happy to say that I’ve only been on the front page because I was involved in a case of significance,’ Robles said.”
Robles’ arrest will likely trigger an investigation by the state’s Judicial Standards Commission in addition to criminal proceedings.
Update, 7:55 a.m.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, court records state that Robles ran a red light at 50 mph and nearly crashed his car into a police officer’s vehicle.
From the newspaper:
“Robles, 60, has taken a voluntary unpaid leave of absence from the Appeals Court, effective immediately, Chief Judge Celia Foy-Castillo told the Journal.
“He also self-reported his arrest to the state Judicial Standards Commission, Foy-Castillo said.”