Third Judicial District Judge Mike Murphy (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Three days before security was beefed up for a closed-door hearing in the case against Third Judicial District Judge Mike Murphy, the court’s staff attorney reported a possible threat from Murphy to law enforcement.
Norm Osborn relayed the potential threat to an investigator working with special prosecutor Matt Chandler on April 29, according to the incident report released Saturday in the case.
“Mr. Osborn stated he had a discussion with Judge Murphy about the investigation. He told Mr. Osborn that he told his wife to lock up his firearms,” the report states. “Judge Murphy also stated, ‘If I go down for this, I’m not going alone. I’m taking someone with me.’”
Whether Murphy meant that he planned to do something violent or that he planned to share evidence with prosecutors that would implicate someone else in a crime isn’t clear. But if Murphy’s statement is the reason security was increased, law enforcement took it very seriously.
As NMPolitics.net noted at the time, security was dramatically beefed up for a closed-door hearing held May 2. Several extra sheriffs’ deputies patrolled the halls at district court, as did a handful of plainclothes officers. Many stayed close to the courtroom where the Murphy hearing was held – Murphy was present for the hearing – and peeked in frequently.
Some stayed in the courtroom during the hearing, even though deputies were not in the courtroom during another closed-door hearing held in the case last month. Doña Ana County Sheriff Todd Garrison also made an appearance at the court, speaking with several deputies near the courtroom where the Murphy hearing was held before leaving.
As a judge, Murphy doesn’t have to pass through a metal detector to enter the courthouse. He also has access to a hallway that isn’t accessible to the public and leads to each courtroom.
Prosecutors and law enforcement officials have refused to comment about the reason for the increased security. But security was beefed up again last week during Thursday’s closed-door hearing in the case and Friday’s grand jury proceedings.
The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team was at the courthouse monitoring the situation. The undersheriff was also present for part of Friday.