Carmen E. Garza

Carmen E. Garza is a former chief magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Legal career Following her graduation from law school, Garza served as an Assistant Public Defender for the State of New Mexico from 1986 to 1989. Garza then moved to private practice, where she primarily represented parties in criminal proceedings in Las Cruces and Albuquerque. For a time, Garza was joined in private practice by her father, a retired district attorney. While in private practice, Garza was a founding member of the New Mexico Women's Bar Association. Garza was reappointed for a second eight-year term as magistrate judge in 2014.

Garza was among five names suggested to President Barack Obama by New Mexico Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall as a replacement for U.S. Chief District Judge Bruce D. Black, who took senior status in 2012.

On January 12, 2018, Garza was named as chief magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico by order of U.S. Chief District Judge M. Christina Armijo. Garza's term as chief magistrate judge began on February 8, 2018, and was scheduled to end no later than February 7, 2025.

In late 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico posted public notice concerning Garza's potential reappointment for a third eight-year term as magistrate judge. After misconduct proceedings were filed against her, Garza withdrew her request to be reappointed, and the District Court voted not to reappoint her to a third term. The vote not to reappoint Garza was a direct result of the investigation into the misconduct complaint against her, according to the panel that conducted the investigation.

Misconduct allegations A misconduct complaint was filed against Garza with the Judicial Council for the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit before her tenure as magistrate judge ended. The complainants, all of whom had previously worked for Garza as law clerks or in other capacities, alleged that Garza had "created an abusive and hostile work environment". Garza denied the allegations but indicated "willingness to take appropriate corrective action". public order, the Judicial Council expressed concern regarding "the continuing lack of awareness of what specifically constitutes abusive conduct and a hostile work environment" in the courts overseen by the Tenth Circuit, and it directed court personnel to better educate federal judges and their employees on appropriate workplace conduct and the prohibitions on retaliation against court staff.

Personal life

Garza is the daughter of former New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Lalo Garza and Margie Garza.

Garza is the older sister of former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza.

Garza is also sister to former Las Cruces city manager Robert Garza.