Thomas A. Rutledge
District Court Judge
5th Judicial District
Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties
Year: 2008
Evaluation: The Rules Governing the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission do not provide for evaluations of judges unless they have served at least two years in their current position. Judge Thomas A. Rutledge has served on the Fifth Judicial District Court since December 2006, which does not allow enough time for the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission to evaluate him prior to the November 2008 election.
Experience & Education: Judge Rutledge was elected in November 2006. He hears both civil and criminal cases. Before being appointed to the district bench, he served as a professor for the College of Southwest. He also served as the 5th Judicial District Attorney. Judge Rutledge is active in various community and professional organizations. He received his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of New Mexico.