New Mexico Supreme Court temporarily suspends county judge

RESERVE, N.M. — The New Mexico Supreme Court temporarily suspended a judge ahead of a hearing that could result in her being removed from her role.

Susan Griffin is a magistrate judge in Catron County. New Mexico’s Judicial Standards Commission accuses Judge Griffin of using her position to “knowingly and willfully” create a fraudulent document to evict one of her tenants.

“Respondent [Judge Griffin] exploited her judicial position when she used her judicial log-in credentials to access Odyssey and print judicial documents to have served on [her tenant], something no other litigant could do,” the commission wrote.

The commission alleges two judges had advised Griffin not to alter any documents in the case. They accuse her of a “continuing pattern of misconduct” and of giving testimony they allege wasn’t credible.

Griffin’s attorney responded to the commission’s petition, saying her actions were “inadvertent.” Her attorney has asked for lighter penalties, such as a fine and/or suspension.

The New Mexico Supreme Court will hear Griffin’s case April 7. Griffin will remain suspended without pay, pending the outcome of that hearing.

Griffin is also the mother of former Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin. Couy Griffin was removed from office over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.