Michael Rael Censured

Michael G. Rael, the municipal judge for Questa, New Mexico, was censured by the New Mexico Supreme Court after a fatal August 2023 crash in which he struck and killed Nathan Charley while driving home from a gig at a bar. Rael admitted to driving roughly 10 miles per hour over the speed limit at the time. The Judicial Standards Commission's findings — which Rael admitted to as willful misconduct — centered on his conduct with responding officers afterward: he repeatedly invoked his judicial title, telling officers he was "the judge in Questa" and that he had held the position for 23 years. The Supreme Court accepted a stipulated agreement sanctioning Rael with a public censure, 12 months of supervised probation and mentorship, and completion of two courses at the National Judicial College at his own expense.