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Sam B. Sanchez (New Mexico judge)
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Sam B. Sanchez was a District Court judge in the Eighth Judicial District of New Mexico.[1] He retired on April 29, 2011, after receiving an ultimatum from the supreme court which stated he was to resign or face likely removal from the bench.[2][3]
Ultimatum to step down
Effective on April 25, 2011, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued an ultimatum against Sanchez, saying that Sanchez must resign or face likely removal from the bench and the loss of retirement benefits. He had until Monday, April 25 at 5PM to voluntarily retire from the court. Sanchez was in trouble for arresting 32 people for contempt of court, after a disruption over a decision in his court. One day after Sanchez had the onlookers arrested, the high court released all 32 people from prison. Chief Justice Charles Daniels said, "This was an extreme abuse of judicial power that we haven't found a match for. We are seriously considering removal."[4]
External links
- Judge Sanchez's Bio
- The Taos News "Taos judge protests 'misconduct' case" April 14, 2011
- The Taos News "Taos judge offered retirement as state supreme court mulls further discipline" April 20, 2011
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Mexico • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Mexico
State courts:
New Mexico Supreme Court • New Mexico Court of Appeals • New Mexico District Courts • New Mexico Magistrate Court • New Mexico Municipal Courts • New Mexico Probate Courts • New Mexico Problem-Solving Courts • New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration Court • Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
State resources:
Courts in New Mexico • New Mexico judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Mexico
