William C. Birdsall
District Court Judge
11th Judicial District --
McKinley and San Juan Counties
Year: 2008
Evaluation: Judge Birdsall received positive ratings from attorneys and court staff. For example, attorneys rated him highly for being courteous to all participants, his attentiveness to the proceedings, maintaining control over the proceedings, and for his dignified demeanor. In addition, the court staff rated the judge very highly for maintaining appropriate hours, discharging responsibilities diligently, and for respecting all court employees. However, the resource staff (e.g. law enforcement officers, probation officers, etc.) rated him somewhat lower in some areas, although they are still fairly positive scores. Specifically, the resource staff rated him relatively lower for making decisions based on the popularity of the decision, and some feel that he does not always treat all participants equally. These are areas which Judge Birdsall acknowledged the need for improvement and he has expressed a desire to do so.
Experience & Education: Judge Birdsall has served as District Court Judge since January 1999. He is now serving as Chief Judge for the 11th Judicial District. He worked in private practice and was the San Juan County District Attorney. He received his B.A. and law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has been active in the Pre-Trial Service Program, Adult Drug Court Program, and the Court's Self-Represented Litigants Program.