Staff Reports
The New Mexico Supreme Court issued an order Feb. 25, permanently and immediately removing McKinley County Magistrate Judge Brent Detsoi from judicial office following a series of ethics violations.
The high court’s ruling bans Detsoi from ever holding or exercising judicial authority in the state again. The prohibition specifically includes the authority to officiate weddings.
The removal concludes a legal battle that began over a year ago. The New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission originally filed a petition for Detsoi’s immediate temporary suspension on Sept. 17, 2024.
Detsoi had been accused of 23 violations of the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct. Among the most serious allegations were claims that Detsoi would ask defendants their race and automatically dismiss traffic citations for those who identified as Native American.
Additional accusations included:
Conducting a bench trial for a defendant who did not have an attorney present.
Violating procedural standards during court sessions.
Failure to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Though Detsoi and his legal team initially fought the suspension—securing an extension in late 2025 to respond to the disciplinary petition—the Supreme Court’s final order marks the end of his tenure.
The court directed that the order be published in the Bar Bulletin, the official publication for the state’s legal community.
