Victor E. Valdez
Metropolitan Court Judge
Bernalillo County
Year: 2014
Evaluation: Judge Victor Valdez received positive ratings from all groups surveyed. His specific strengths among attorneys include punctuality in commencing proceedings, knowledge of the law, maintaining proper control over the proceedings, attentiveness to the proceedings, and his ability to decisively rule on procedural and substantive matters. However, the attorneys rated him somewhat lower when it comes to conducting himself in a manner free from arrogance. Judge Valdez received positive ratings in all areas among the court staff and resource staff (e.g., law enforcement officers). Judge Valdez's ratings improved in all areas surveyed.
Experience & Education: Judge Victor Valdez was appointed and elected to the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in 2004. Prior to his judicial appointment, he practiced law for 15 years specializing in civil rights. He currently serves as Presiding Criminal Judge. He is actively involved in various professional and community organizations, including the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association. Judge Valdez received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1989.
PERCENTAGE THAT AGREE OR DISAGREE THAT THE JUDGE EXHIBITS POSITIVE QUALITIES IN EACH CATEGORY *
| Attorneys (n=69, 40% Response Rate) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Agree | Partly Agree/ Partly Disagree | Disagree |
| Exhibits Integrity | 78% | 16% | 6% |
| Fair and Impartial | 78% | 13% | 9% |
| Knowledgeable of Law | 86% | 9% | 5% |
| Communication is Clear | 87% | 8% | 5% |
| Appropriate Demeanor | 72% | 13% | 15% |
| Properly Controls Proceedings | 92% | 3% | 4% |
| Respects Court Employees | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Court Staff (n=73, 35% Response Rate) | |||
| Category | Agree | Partly Agree/ Partly Disagree | Disagree |
| Exhibits Integrity | 87% | 7% | 6% |
| Communication is Clear | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Properly Controls Proceedings | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Respects Court Employees | 78% | 16% | 6% |
| Jurors (n=28, 41% Response Rate) | |||
| Category | Agree | Partly Agree/ Partly Disagree | Disagree |
| Exhibits Integrity | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Fair and Impartial | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Knowledgeable of Law | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Communication is Clear | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Appropriate Demeanor | 99% | 1% | 0% |
| Properly Controls Proceedings | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Respects Court Employees | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Agree | Partly Agree/ Partly Disagree | Disagree |
| Exhibits Integrity | 87% | 9% | 4% |
| Fair and Impartial | 85% | 13% | 3% |
| Knowledgeable of Law | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Communication is Clear | 87% | 10% | 3% |
| Appropriate Demeanor | 90% | 10% | 0% |
| Properly Controls Proceedings | 92% | 3% | 5% |
| Respects Court Employees | N/A | N/A | N/A |
* On the tables above, the "Agree" columns are comprised of the strongly agree and agree responses. Similarly, the "Disagree" columns are comprised of the strongly disagree and disagree responses. The combined percentage of "Agree", "Disagree", and "Partly Agree/Partly Disagree" for each category may not equal 100% due to rounding error. "N/A" indicates that the category is "not applicable" because some populations were not asked certain questions.
PERCENTAGE THAT RECOMMEND THE JUDGE BE RETAINED OR NOT BE RETAINED IN OFFICE. ‡
‡ On the charts above, the "Retain" columns are comprised of the strongly recommend retain and somewhat recommend retain responses. Similarly, the "Do Not Retain" columns are comprised of the strongly recommend not retain and somewhat recommend not retain responses.