Carmen E. Garza

Carmen E. Garza is a former chief magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. She served as a magistrate judge from August 2006 to August 22, 2022, holding the position of chief magistrate judge from early 2018 until the end of her tenure on the bench. In 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico voted against reappointing Garza for a further term as magistrate judge as a result of misconduct allegations against her. Education Garza earned a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University and her Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Legal career Following her graduation from law school, Garza served as an Assistant Public Defender for the State of New Mexico from 1986 to 1989. Garza then moved to private practice, where she primarily represented parties in criminal proceedings in Las Cruces and Albuquerque. For a time, Garza was joined in private practice by her father, a retired district attorney. While in private practice, Garza was a founding member of the New Mexico Women's Bar Association. Federal judicial service