Judge Murphy to start at end of July

Posted 6/27/2006 07:19:00 AM

Newly appointed District Judge Michael Murphy of Las Cruces plans to start work at the end of July, he said Monday.

Murphy said he needs time to ensure that his clients transition to new attorneys and don’t miss court hearings. He sounds excited as he speaks about being a judge.

“I’m extremely excited about the prospect of service to the people of Doña Ana County,” he said. “It’s my home, and I love it here.”

Murphy was appointed by the governor last week to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Larry Ramirez, who was plagued by allegations of sexual harassment and making inappropriate comments. Murphy is running unopposed in the November general election.

When asked by Chief Presiding District Judge Robert E. Robles during his interview last week with the judicial nominating commission, Murphy said he has a tendency to make “locker-room jokes.”

Many have expressed concern about that, especially in light of the Ramirez situation. The fact that Robles asked Murphy about it indicates that he takes such comments seriously.

Murphy said Monday there is a difference between “what is appropriate in the private setting and what is appropriate in court,” and during his career of more than 30 years he has never been accused of making improper comments in court.

“I don’t see it as an issue,” Murphy said. “There’s not going to be a repeat of any prior unpleasantness.”

Murphy said he hasn’t been officially assigned to the children’s court, as far as he knows. His expertise is domestic relations, and some have suggested Murphy might be more comfortable there than in the children’s court.

Though Ramirez was a children’s court judge, Robles could reassign judges, should they want to trade duties.

“Obviously, you meet the needs of the court,” Murphy said. “It’s all part of a big team over there.”