HOLDING COURT:
It may take a minute for Fran Gallegos to get used to the view from the other side of the bench. The embattled municipal judge will have her day in court-as a defendant-in an attempt to demonstrate to the New Mexico Supreme Court that she shouldn't be immediately suspended per the recommendation of the state's Judicial Standards Commission.
According to attorney Aaron Wolf-who is representing Gallegos-the Aug. 24 hearing will allow Gallegos an opportunity to stave off immediate suspension while the investigation into three petitions filed by the JSC alleging misconduct is pending [Outtakes, Aug. 10:
].
"The Supreme Court has ordered Judge Gallegos to show cause to them why she should not be suspended while the investigation is ongoing," Wolf says. "She needs to demonstrate to them that an immediate suspension is unnecessary."
Wolf has filed responses to the JSC petitions with the court and expects the hearing to be centered on legal arguments from both sides, not testimony from his client. If the Supreme Court decides to suspend Gallegos, Wolf says it could be several months before the investigation is complete and Gallegos is either reinstated or asked to vacate the bench permanently. The hearing-slated for 1:30 pm-is open to the public.
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