Stephen Bridgforth
District Court Judge
3rd Judicial District --
Doña Ana County
Year: 2008
Evaluation: Judge Bridgforth received positive ratings from both attorneys and non-attorneys. Among the attorneys, he was given favorable ratings for his overall demeanor, attentiveness to the proceedings, maintaining proper control over the courtroom, and ruling on motions and cases in a timely manner. He received positive scores among non-attorneys on all attributes, particularly for conducting himself in a proper manner free from impropriety or the appearance of impropriety, attentiveness to the proceedings, and displaying a sense of fairness, impartiality and justice. Lawyers appearing before Judge Bridgforth rated him slightly lower (compared to his other scores) for displaying a sense of fairness and avoiding prejudging the outcome of cases. However, Judge Bridgforth's scores in these areas have improved somewhat since his last evaluation in 2005.
Experience & Education: Judge Bridgforth was appointed District Judge on August 19, 1999. He presides over criminal cases. Prior to his appointment, he worked in private practice for over 20 years. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa and his law degree from the University of New Mexico.