Judge Accused of Raping Prostitute Will Retire Friday to Resolve Legal Ethics Issues
A criminal court chief judge in Albuquerque, N.M., who was accused of raping a prostitute by performing oral sex without her consent has agreed to retire Friday to resolve legal ethics issues.
Judge Albert “Pat” Murdoch, who heads criminal courts in the 2nd Judicial District, has also agreed not to seek judicial office in the state again, reports the Associated Press.
The state supreme court today approved the agreement reached by Murdoch and the Judicial Standards Commission. He was arrested last week on charges of criminal sexual penetration and intimidation of a witness, reports KOAT.
The articles don’t say whether Murdoch might practice law after his retirement. His lawyers say authorities are investigating whether the woman who accused him, who is an admitted prostitute, used a video of a sexual encounter to try to extort him. His lawyers are seeking to have the charges against Murdoch dismissed.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Criminal Court Judge Accused of Raping Prostitute in Incident Caught on Tape”
ABAJournal.com: “Judge Is Victim in Prostitute-Rape Case, His Counsel Says”
