Federal Judge Accused of Sex Harassment Gets Rare Rebuke

The Tenth Circuit Judicial Council publicly reprimanded District Court Judge Carlos Murguia for sexual harassment Sept. 30, the judiciary’s most severe available sanction.

The Council, made up of seven district and circuit court judges, found that the longtime judge “gave preferential treatment and unwanted attention to female employees of the Judiciary in the form of sexually suggestive comments, inappropriate text messages, and excessive, non-work-related contact, much of which occurred after work hours and often late at night.”

It also found that, although Murguia eventually admitted his misconduct, he “was less than candid,” admitting “allegations only when confronted with supporting documentary ...