Carmen E. Garza at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New Mexico · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Carmen E. Garza
U.S. Magistrate Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico · U.S. Magistrate Judge · Active · August 23, 2006–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- CourtListener / Free Law Project
Biography
Professional career
- Carmen E. Garza held the role of a U.S. magistrate judge for the District of New Mexico during 2006–2022, with chief magistrate judge service beginning in 2018
- Appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of New Mexico in August 2006
- It details assistant public defender work during 1986–1989, followed by criminal defense practice in Las Cruces and Albuquerque, among them work with her father
Education
- Bachelor’s degree — New Mexico State University
- University of New Mexico School of Law — J.D.
- New Mexico State University, undergraduate degree
Additional information
- Garza sought review of the 2022 order, but the Judicial Conference’s Conduct and Disability Committee denied it, stating the order did not make formal findings of misconduct
- In late 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico considered reappointing Garza for a third term, but misconduct proceedings were filed The Judicial Council of the Tenth Circuit issued a 16‐page order in September 2022 detailing complaints from former law clerks and employees alleging
- Chief Magistrate Judge from February 8, 2018 until August 22, 2022
- an Assistant Public Defender for the State of New Mexico — 1986–1989
- Garza was born in 1959 or 1960
- She then practiced law in Las Cruces and Albuquerque
- focusing on criminal cases, and was a founding member of the New Mexico Women’s Bar Association
- It also identifies her as a founding member of the New Mexico Women’s Bar Association
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Media Electronic Device Coverage
Statewide
New Mexico Rule 23-107 authorizes broadcasting, televising, photographing, and recording in state court proceedings subject to the rule's guidelines and judicial control.
The broadcasting, televising, photographing, and recording of court proceedings in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, magistrate courts, and metropolitan courts of the State of New Mexico are hereby authorized in accordance with the guidelines promulgated herewith.Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
New Mexico Judiciary remote-proceedings standards treat virtual courtrooms as formal courtroom settings and impose conduct expectations for remote participants.
The courtroom, whether a physical in-person courtroom, or a virtual courtroom, remains a formal and serious setting where judges hear matters involving real people that affect real lives.New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · effective August 23, 2006 · Source checked August 2, 2026
View U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico current judicial profile ↗Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · New Mexico Courts · effective December 20, 2018 · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings ↗New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards
Statewide source · PDF · New Mexico Courts · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards ↗