Magistrate facing ethics reprimands

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

SANTA FE — Elected Magistrate Kenneth Howard may receive formal reprimands after he appeared Wednesday before the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Howard is accused of denying due process during two civil proceedings, by speaking openly in Navajo — without an interpreter present, and without later translating. In each case, only one party spoke Navajo ... and both parties spoke English, according to the Judicial Standards Commission’s Petition for Discipline filed with New Mexico Supreme Court June 19.

Additionally, Howard is accused of referring traffic offenders to an unsanctioned traffic school. He allegedly came in contact with the school’s former director at a restaurant, and then ignored administrative procedures in order to give the school business.

The Judicial Standards Commission has recommended that Howard be disciplined by receiving a written, formal reprimand; that he be placed on supervised probation for one year; and that he reimburse the commission’s cost to investigate ... about $6,000.

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