Gary L. Clingman
District Court Judge
5th Judicial District --
Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties
Year: 2008
Evaluation: Judge Clingman received positive ratings from both attorneys and non-attorneys. The survey results showed that Judge Clingman has improved in many areas since his last evaluation in 2005. Among the attorneys, he was given favorable ratings for his punctuality in commencing proceedings, maintaining proper control over the courtroom, attentiveness to the proceedings, and for being prompt in scheduling hearings and trials. The court staff rate Judge Clingman positively in all areas, including maintaining appropriate hours given the workload and discharging administrative responsibilities diligently. In addition, the resource staff (e.g. law enforcement and probation officers) rated him well for ruling on motions or cases in a timely manner and for displaying familiarity with cases through prior preparation.
Experience & Education: Judge Clingman was appointed as a district judge in 1997. Prior to his appointment, he worked in private practice. He presides over a diversified docket and hears both civil and criminal cases. Judge Clingman has been the Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial District since 2006. He is active in various civil and professional organizations. Judge Clingman has served as an instructor and facilitator at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, and is pursuing his postgraduate degree in Judicial Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and his law degree from Texas Tech Law School.