Suspended Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza lashed out Thursday at the board that is investigating allegations that he’s using drugs.
The Judicial Standards Commission filed a request Wednesday that the New Mexico Supreme Court immediately suspend Garza without pay, force him to undergo urine and hair tests for illegal drugs, and explain why he should not be held in contempt for refusing the commission’s previous demand for the tests.
In comments published in the Las Cruces Sun-News this morning, Garza said he’s getting a raw deal.
“This time I am fighting it,” Garza told the newspaper. “This is a very serious matter. They did not afford me my rights. Lawyers and judges do not have rights with the Judicial Standards Commission. It needs to be revamped or abolished.”
Just what he’ll do isn’t clear. Garza is no longer being represented by
Even before Wednesday’s filing, Garza was in a lot of trouble. He is already on suspension with pay until Nov. 3 while the commission conducts five separate investigations into other serious allegations. Details aren’t known because that file has been sealed by the high court. And he’s on judicial probation stemming from an admission earlier this year that he improperly involved himself in a drunken driving case against a woman with whom he had a personal relationship.