NM judge arrested for rape agrees to retire

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An Albuquerque judge accused of raping a woman will retire rather than face disciplinary proceedings, and agreed never to seek a judicial office in New Mexico.

The state Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted an agreement in which District Judge Pat Murdoch will retire Friday.

The agreement was reached between Murdoch and the Judicial Standards Commission.

Murdoch was arrested last week. He was the chief criminal judge in the 2nd Judicial District, which is New Mexico's busiest court.

The woman who has accused Murdoch of rape is an admitted prostitute and has said she met with him about eight times.

Murdoch's lawyers say police are investigating whether the woman may have tried to extort the judge with a video of a sexual encounter.