Judicial Watch - New Mexico
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Judicial Watch New Mexico is dedicated in exposing and weeding out graft and corruption that has become rampant in the judiciary in New Mexico

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A very secretive political action committee made up of political cronies is now at the root of a judiciary gone wild in New Mexico.

The Judicial Standards Commission of the State of New Mexico (JSC), created by amending the Constitution of New Mexico, was supposed to prevent graft and corruption in the judiciary in New Mexico.  It was also supposed to make sure that judges carried out fair, independent, unbiased and impartial justice.  It didn't work.  The JSC is nothing more than a political organization - or political action committee - made up of politically-appointed political cronies with too much power over the judiciary in New Mexico.  Its existance has politicized the judicial system and caused the judiciary to lose its fairness and independence in New Mexico.  The system of justice in New Mexico is now under the absolute control of politicians and political attorneys.  Rather than being fair, unbiased, independent and impartial, judges in New Mexico now have to make sure that their judicial decisions do not upset the members of the Judicial Standards Commission.  They do not want to face the rath of the JSC by making decisions that the JSC does not agree with.  After all, the JSC excerts a lot of influence over the Supreme Court which presumably has superintending control over the New Mexico judiciary.  Keep in mind that Supreme Court justices can also be investigated and removed by the JSC.

Another Political Action Committee made up of political cronies overseeing the judiciary in New Mexico

The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC), another politically-appointed political action group, intimidates judges to the point that they have become worthless in their capacity as judges.  The JPEC sends out questionaires to attorneys, law clerks, legal assistants, clerical workers, court clerks, law librarians and their fellow judges asking for them to evaluate the performance of the judges.  Disgruntled former employees of the judges and upset attorneys who have appeared before the judges are given the opportunity to "evaluate" these same judges.  The JPEC crosses the line by interviewing the former law clerks of judges.  At election time, the JPEC endorses some judicial candidates and opposes others in the same manner as any other political action committees.  Judges are more interested in "impressing" the JPEC and the JSC than in delivering fair, independent, unbiased and impartial justice.

Scrutiny might change judicial discipline process in the Judiciary in New Mexico.

The increase in the Judicial Standards Commission’s funding, powers and activities has led to scrutiny that could result in changes to the system for holding judges accountable to the Code of Judicial Conduct.

A very interesting (copyrighted) article on the Judicial Standards Commission of the State of New Mexico was written by Heath Haussamen.

Notice: Heath Haussamen is in no way affiliated with or associated with Judicial Watch or Judicial Watch New Mexico.

This is the third in a series of articles by Haussamen that examine whether the judicial discipline process is fair to judges accused of misconduct. For additional articles and more information, visit the home page for this special report by clicking here.

This article, like all posted on Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics, is copyrighted (© 2006) by Haussamen Publications, Inc., and is not to be republished without permission.

E-mail Heath Haussamen at heath@haussamen.com

For information on Judicial Watch New Mexico contact:
Chairman@Judicial-Watch.Net

Judicial Watch - New Mexico
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