Murdoch handled major cases

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - District Court Judge Pat Murdoch, who overcame polio as a child, is known as a tough, straight-talking judge. He often handles some of New Mexico's biggest cases.

A fellow district court judge told News 13 Tuesday night that Judge Murdoch is a good man and a wonderful judge.

Murdoch is well known for throwing out key police evidence in the Ronald Santiago murder trial. Santiago is accused of killing John and Bernadette Ohlemacher in 2005.

Murdoch scolded the State Attorney General's office just three weeks ago for failing to appoint a special prosecutor in the Rebecca Vigil Giron corruption case. She's accused of misusing grant money while she was secretary of state.

Murdoch was slammed in 2008 after he sentenced former marine Elton John Richard to two years in jail for chasing down and killing a man who broke into his SUV.

Judge Murdoch made another controversial decision earlier this year when he gave David Maes probation, after he was convicted of raping a suspect while he was an Albuquerque cop. Murdoch could have put Maes in jail for 4 years, but said prison would be worse for the former cop than it would be for other rapists.

Murdoch is just the latest Albuquerque judge to find himself in trouble with the law.

In the past seven years, we've seen Murdoch’s boss, chief district court Judge John Brennan quit the bench after he was arrested for driving drunk while doing cocaine.

Metro court Judge Theresa Gomez retired after she got nailed for living rent free in low-income government housing while making a hundred grand a year. She then admitted she had a gambling problem.

Metro court Judge Wayne Griego was booted from the bench after he was caught fixing parking tickets for friends and family.