NPT Voter Guide 2008

District Court Questions

Biography

Name: Alfredo Chavez

Age: 54

Occupation: Judge

Residence (East Side, El Paso County):

Relevant Experience (for print, will be edited 100 words max):

***

Issues (for print, will be edited to 200 words or less)

1. What is the most important issue facing the court?

Response: Sustainability of the programs for children and families currently in

place.

2. Is the local system of oversight sufficient to protect the public

from unfair judges? If so, why, and if not, how would you change it?

Response: Yes. The Judicial Ethics Commission does and excellent job of

overseeing the performance of Judges.

3. What experience do you have with the law that will make you a good

judge?

Response: I offer the voter 14 plus years of judicial experience, 11 years as

Judge of the 65th Family District Court and 3 1/2 years as a

Juvenile Court Referee.

4. How do District Courts differ from County Courts?

Response: Aside from being State employees as opposed to County

employees, the differences are purely jurisdictional.

5. What at is your position on the trend at the state level to either

consolidate the county and district courts or to allow them to hear

similar cases?

Response: I am in favor of consolidation. Make them all district courts.

6. In El Paso, it seems like lawyers and judges know each other,

something perhaps similar to most communities. What are some of the

situations under which you think a judge ought to recuse themselves?

Are the rules clear enough and if not, how would you change them?

Response: The Canons of Judicial Ethics, in addition to the many

AG opinions, are clear enough on the issue of recusal.

7. Is there fair access to justice for everyone? How would you improve

access; specifically, how would you support public defenders?

Response: Yes. I support public defenders but would prefer an increase in

funding for court appointed attorneys.