N.M. Supreme Court Chief Justice denies recusal request

November 15, 2011

New Mexico: New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles W. Daniels has denied a request submitted by Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler to recuse himself from matters pertaining to a bribery case against Judge Mike Murphy (New Mexico). Chandler argued that Justice Daniels created a negative appearance because of prior actions and statements and further accused him of buying his appointment to the court with a campaign contribution from his wife. Justice Daniels has denied the allegations and in his order refusing to recuse himself he said he was "disappointed and concerned" by and about Chandler’s conduct, "as any judge should be." He went further to say that the accusations would not cause him to be biased against the state itself in the matters before him. The full order can be found here.