--- title: "Carmen E. Garza | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-e-garza-9396" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Carmen E. Garza U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico · U.S. Magistrate Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico - State: New Mexico - Role: U.S. Magistrate Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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 ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media electronic device coverage Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rule-23-107-12-20-2018.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote proceedings conduct Scope: statewide New Mexico Judiciary remote-proceedings standards treat virtual courtrooms as formal courtroom settings and impose conduct expectations for remote participants. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/04/NEW-MEXICO-JUDICIARY-REMOTE-PROCEEDINGS-AND-MEETING-STANDARDS.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9396/carmen-e-garza/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9396/carmen-e-garza/) - [U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9396/carmen-e-garza/) - [Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rule-23-107-12-20-2018.pdf) - [New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/04/NEW-MEXICO-JUDICIARY-REMOTE-PROCEEDINGS-AND-MEETING-STANDARDS.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9396/carmen-e-garza/) - [Designation of Carmen E. Garza as Chief Magistrate Judge (18-MC-04-06) | District of New Mexico | United States District Court](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/content/designation-carmen-e-garza-chief-magistrate-judge-18-mc-04-06) - [Carmen Garza - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Carmen_Garza) - [Wikidata: Carmen E. Garza](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115958140) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-e-garza-9396", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-e-garza-9396", "name": "Carmen E. Garza | KnowJudges", "description": "Carmen E. Garza, U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-e-garza-9396#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carmen-e-garza-9396#judge", "name": "Carmen E. 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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](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — 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](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.