Judge Questioned in Court Bribery Investigation Removed From Criminal Cases
Jim Martin, a New Mexico judge who was questioned about allegations that resulted in bribery charges against a fellow state court jurist, was recently removed from hearing criminal cases, to avoid any perceptions of conflict of interest, the Associated Press reported.
Michael Murphy, who with Martin sits in the 3rd Judicial District, is the only person charged in the bribery case, but prosecutors report that the investigation is ongoing. Murphy pleaded not guilty in court today and was ordered to pay a $10,000 bond, KOB-TV reported.
Martin was allegedly approached by potential judicial candidate Beverly Singleman for advice, and Murphy joined the two of them at a lunch date. According to prosecutors, at the lunch Murphy told Singleman that if she wanted a judicial appointment, she had to make a donation to the Democratic Party through Las Cruces activist Edgar Lopez.
The Las Cruces district attorney’s office also alleges that the practice was common in the 3rd Judicial District, and Lopez delivered the payments to former governor Bill Richardson. Richardson has denied the allegations.
According to the Associated Press, Martin was removed from hearing criminal cases because observers might wonder if he was trying to curry favors with the prosecutors when he ruled in their favor, or ruled against them in anger.
Additional coverage:
Las Cruces Sun-News: “Hearing for Judge Murphy is today”
