Santa Fe County Magistrate Judge George Anaya Jr. Courtesy photo
NMSC News:
SANTA FE — Santa Fe County Magistrate Judge George Anaya Jr. is retiring after 30 years on the bench.
The judge’s last day on the bench will be Aug. 31.
“I am proud of the work I’ve done for the court, both on and off the bench. I work diligently to make sure every person who comes before the court is treated with respect and dignity,” Judge Anaya said. “It has been a true honor to serve the citizens of Santa Fe for the past 30 years. I will treasure my time working for the Judiciary of New Mexico for the rest of my life.”
Judge Anaya, who was born and raised in Santa Fe, was elected magistrate judge in 1986, at age 22. He lost re-election in 1994 but returned to the bench in 2000 and has served since then. He is a 1991 graduate of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev., and received his certification in judicial studies from the institution in 2012. He obtained a paralegal certification from the University of New Mexico in 1997.
In 1988, the Hispanic Bar Association recognized Judge Anaya as the “youngest Hispanic trial judge in the nation.”
“When I came on the bench in 1987, our court management system consisted of 4” x 8” index cards, NCR paper and carbon paper,” Judge Anaya said. “We worked hard to bring automation to the court and develop it into the state-of-the-art system we have today. During my first two terms, I was the first magistrate court in the state to implement mediation for civil cases. When I returned to the bench in 2000, mediation was established as a normal part of the process statewide.”
The judge has served as president, vice president and secretary-treasurer of the New Mexico Magistrate Association and is a past member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.
Magistrate Judge George Anaya Jr. (left) at the Courts in Schools Program held at Santa Fe High School. Courtesy/Judge Anaya
In 2018, the judge was asked by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office to conduct the Courts in Schools Program in Santa Fe. High school students were able to observe the conviction and sentencing of DWI offenders, who along with the judge and others spoke to the students about the effects and consequences of driving while intoxicated.
Judge Anaya presides over the Santa Fe Magistrate Court’s DWI Drug Court Program. Offenders are overseen by a judge and a team of professionals, including law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders and treatment providers.
“Our team works tirelessly to guide participants to a sober lifestyle and help transform their lives to become productive and contributing members of society,” Judge Anaya said.
He has served on a number of Supreme Court appointed committees and commissions, including the New Mexico Commission on Access to Justice and the Magistrate Judge Advisory Committee.
The governor will appoint a successor to serve the remainder of Judge Anaya’s term, which expires at the end of December. The general election will determine who fills the judgeship for a new four-year term.
The judge and his wife of 29 years, Patricia, have three sons: Steven, Andrew and Matthew (deceased) as well as a granddaughter, Melanie, and grandson, Xavier.