Third Judicial District Judge Mike Murphy
The criminal trial of indicted Third Judicial District Judge Mike Murphy will be held in November, the case’s judge decided at a hearing held today.
From the Las Cruces Sun-News:
“The trial will start Nov. 7 or 8, said Judge Leslie Smith, a retired federal magistrate assigned to the case. The exact date will be spelled out in an impending order.
“Once set, Smith told prosecution and defense attorneys that the deadline won’t change ‘short of death or illness.’”
Murphy is facing felony bribery charges and a misdemeanor charge of violating the state’s Governmental Conduct Act.
Prosecutors allege that Murphy solicited a bribe from potential judicial applicant Beverly Singleman, told District Judge Lisa Schultz to tell Singleman she needed to pay the bribe, and threatened to destroy Singleman’s reputation for telling others that he solicited a bribe from her.
No one besides Murphy has been charged or received notice that they may be indicted, but the investigation is ongoing. Murphy has pleaded not guilty to the felony charges.
A prior version of this article incorrectly stated that Murphy is charged with paying a bribe for his position.