New Mexico judge banned from restaurant after fight
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May 14, 2012
Farmington, New Mexico: A State District Court Judge was issued a trespass warning after he got into a verbal altercation with a bartender and the owner of the establishment after he and his girlfriend were refused service.[1]
Judge Thomas Hynes reported that it was the "most bizarre thing I've ever been involved with in my entire life."[2]
According to John Silva, the owner of the establishment Three Rivers Brewery and Restaurant, Judge Hynes became very agitated when the bartender refused to serve alcohol to Hyne's girlfriend, and then to Hyne himself. According to the police report, "Judge Hynes made the statement that he was District Court Judge Hynes and he demanded a drink."[2]
When he was not served, he wanted to see the manager and later the owner. Silva alleged that Judge Hynes wagged his finger in Silva's face, yelling at him, and saying, "get me a drink or I will (expletive) you up."[2]
Silva also reported that he tried to draw attention to the situation, shouting, "Hey everyone. I have District Court Judge Thomas Hynes here and he is angry I will not serve him a beer."[2] Police report confirms that Judge Hynes had bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled of alcohol when they arrived at the scene.[2]
While Judge Hynes admitted it was not one of his finer moments, he did report a different version of events.[2]
Judge Hynes said he did have one drink before he came to the Three Rivers Brewery and Restaurant, but when he attempted to order his girlfriend a drink, the bartender refused to serve her, and later him. Hynes said tempers flared and that the bartender became "belligerent and his voice was raised and then we were going on and on and I lost my temper."[2]
Hynes claims the bartender put his finger in Hynes's face, and Hynes told him, "you stick that finger in my face and I'm going to rip it off and put it someplace."[2]
Hynes admits that he should have not lost his temper, and regrets his actions, but fully denies using his position as a judge to threaten the bartender. "People shouldn't lose their temper and when they do, they should keep their mouth shut," Judge Hynes said.[2]
"It was an unfortunate situation, I let myself get into a thing where I lost my temper," he added.[2]
Judge Hynes believes that he and his girlfriend were never going to be served, as he believes that in his position as judge, he makes a lot of decisions some people don't care for.[2]
Silva will not be pressing charges against Judge Hynes, but instead will be filing a complaint with the state Judicial Standards Commission.[2]
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