Raymond Z. Ortiz
District Court Judge
1st Judicial District
Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe Counties
Year: 2008
Evaluation: Judge Ortiz received positive ratings from attorneys and resource staff (e.g. law enforcement officers, probation officers, etc.), but somewhat mixed ratings from the court staff. He received very positive ratings from attorneys for being attentive to the proceedings, maintaining proper control over the proceedings, and for having a dignified demeanor. The resource staff rated the judge well for being courteous to all participants, discharging responsibilities diligently, and for ruling on motions or cases in a timely manner. The court staff rated him well for maintaining appropriate hours given the workload and for displaying a sense of fairness, impartiality and justice. However, the court staff rated him lower for respecting all court employees regardless of their position and for being punctual in commencing proceedings. Judge Ortiz has indicated a willingness to improve his performance in the areas in which he received lower ratings.
Experience & Education: Judge Ortiz was appointed to serve as District Court Judge in November 2005 and was elected in November 2006. Prior to his appointment, he was in private practice for almost twenty years. He presides over the Family Court. Judge Ortiz is active in various civil and professional organizations. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and law degree from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall).