<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582143830340.jpeg" alt="The Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas, where Murguia has served as a judge since 1999. Julie Denesha" />
 <figcaption>The Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas, where Murguia has served as a judge since 1999. Julie Denesha</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/federal-judge-kansas-city-kansas-resigns-following-reprimand-sexual-harassment#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>A federal judge in Kansas City, Kansas, who was publicly reprimanded 
last year for workplace misconduct is resigning after more than 20 years
 on the bench.U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia tendered his 
resignation effective April 1, 2020, in a letter to President Trump that
 was released by the federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, on Tuesday 
afternoon. &nbsp; “In recent months, it has become clear that I can 
no longer effectively serve the Court in this capacity,” Murguia wrote 
in the brief, three-paragraph letter. “I therefore tender my resignation
 with a heavy heart and profound apologies, out of respect for the 
federal judiciary, my colleagues, my community and – most importantly – 
my family.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582143882406.jpeg" alt=" U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia Credit U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas" />
 <figcaption> U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia Credit U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>An accompanying release by Chief Judge Julie Robinson said that 
Murguia’s cases will immediately be reassigned to other district judges 
of the court. It said Murguia will not be eligible for a pension or any 
retirement benefits.In September, the Judicial Council of the 
10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed Murguia a rare public 
reprimand for sexually harassing court employees, having an affair with a
 felon who was on probation and being “habitually late” for court 
meetings.Murguia apologized for his conduct and pledged not to 
engage in inappropriate conduct in the future. He had continued serving 
on the bench.Earlier this month, four members of the House 
Judiciary Committee said in a letter that the reprimand of Murguia had 
documented “very troubling” behavior and questioned whether court 
officials had done enough to protect court employees from sexual 
harassment. The letter sought more details about the Murguia case from 
court officials.Murguia, who was born in 1957, was nominated to 
the federal bench in 1999 by President Bill Clinton to fill the seat 
vacated by Judge Sam A. Crow. He was confirmed by the Senate and has 
been a federal judge since September 1999. He was the first Hispanic 
federal judge in Kansas City, Kansas.&nbsp;Murguia, who grew up in 
the Argentine district of Kansas City, Kansas, comes from a prominent 
family. His younger sister Mary Murguia is a federal appeals court judge
 in Arizona and another sister, Janet Murguia, is the president and CEO 
of UnidosUS, formerly the National Council of La Raza.Murguia is
 divorced from Ann Brandau-Murguia, a member of the Kansas Board of 
Regents and a former commissioner for District 3 of the Unified 
Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas.Before 
becoming a federal judge, Murguia was a lawyer in private practice and 
then a Wyandotte County District Court judge from 1990 to 1999.Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies">@DanMargolies</a>.

Federal judge in KCK resigns following reprimand for sex harassment