On Monday, January 27, 2025, the New Mexico Supreme Court publicly censured Johnny Valdez, a magistrate court judge in Cibola County, following an inquiry by the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission. The decision, which was not intended for publication in the New Mexico Appellate Reports, stemmed from allegations of willful misconduct and inappropriate behavior in the workplace.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Johnny Valdez,” with case number S-1-SC-40571.
The Supreme Court approved a Stipulation Agreement and Consent to Discipline, which outlined the findings of the Commission’s investigation into Judge Valdez’s conduct. The inquiry began after a complaint was filed against him, leading to an informal conference where Valdez discussed the allegations directly with the Commission. Formal proceedings commenced on June 13, 2024, culminating in the stipulation that Judge Valdez denied committing willful misconduct but acknowledged that the Commission could reasonably conclude otherwise based on specific incidents.
The stipulated facts revealed that between December 2022 and July 2023, Judge Valdez engaged in inappropriate physical contact with a magistrate court clerk by poking him with a gel-filled keyboard wrist-rest. Additionally, he made derogatory remarks about the clerk’s physical appearance, including comments about weight and grooming. On one occasion, Valdez expressed his frustration at the clerk’s complaints regarding delays in document signing by angrily slamming files on the clerk’s desk.
In response to these findings, the Supreme Court noted that Judge Valdez’s actions violated several provisions of the New Mexico Code of Judicial Conduct. Specifically, he breached Rule 21-101, which requires judges to respect and comply with the law; Rule 21-102, which promotes public confidence in the judiciary; Rule 21-203, which prohibits bias and harassment; and Rule 21-208, which mandates dignity and courtesy in interactions with court staff and others.
The Supreme Court emphasized that although not every violation of the Code necessitates disciplinary action, the cumulative effect of Judge Valdez’s conduct warranted a public censure. The court stated that such behavior undermines public trust in the judiciary and reflects poorly on the judicial system as a whole.
The public censure serves to reinforce the importance of maintaining the dignity of judicial office and adhering to the ethical standards set forth in the Code of Judicial Conduct. The court reiterated that judges must act in ways that promote public confidence in the legal system and avoid any actions that could be perceived as improper or biased.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court highlighted that Judge Valdez’s actions not only violated specific rules but also created an environment that could be perceived as harassing. Such conduct is detrimental to the effective administration of justice and damages the integrity of the judicial process.
The decision to publicly censure Judge Valdez underscores the court’s commitment to upholding the ethical standards expected of judges in New Mexico. The ruling aims to protect the public’s confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the judiciary, reminding all judges of the consequences of misconduct.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
