---
title: "Edward L. Chavez | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-l-chavez-5142"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Edward L. Chavez

New Mexico Supreme Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: New Mexico Supreme Court
- State: New Mexico
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, New Mexico Supreme Court, 2003-present
- Edward L. Chávez is a retired justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, serving from 2003 to March 2018 and as chief justice from 2007 to 2010
- As Chief Justice from 2007 to 2010, he led the court during four legislative sessions
- His teaching included evidence and trial practice at the UNM law school and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy

### Education

- University of New Mexico School of Law in — J.D. (1981)
- a J.D. from the University of New Mexico in 1981, beginning legal practice in Albuquerque that year.
- His academic qualifications include a B.B.A. from Eastern New Mexico University in 1978

### Additional information

- Served until March 2018, when he retired.
- Appointed by Governor Bill Richardson on January 30, 2003, Chávez joined the New Mexico Supreme Court on March 10, 2003.
- Date of birth: 1956
- focusing on modernization and access to justice
- Before joining the Supreme Court, Chávez practiced law in Albuquerque, held the role of President of the Legal Aid Society of Albuquerque, Chairman of the UNM Mental Health Center, and Chair of the Supreme Court Disciplinary Board.
- Chávez was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and grew up on small family cattle ranches in Torrance and San Miguel counties.
- He also taught at the UNM School of Law and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, and was a Fellow in both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Chávez was known for a consensus-building, collegial leadership style and a pragmatic judicial philosophy emphasizing fairness, constitutional protection, and the real-world impact of rulings.
- He was respected for fostering institutional integrity and mentoring legal professionals
- His professional leadership included the Legal Aid Society of Albuquerque, the UNM Mental Health Center Board of Trustees and New Mexico’s lawyer disciplinary board.
- He won election to the American Law Institute and became a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
- After retirement, he continued mediation and arbitration work.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### media electronic device coverage

Scope: statewide

New Mexico Rule 23-107 authorizes broadcasting, televising, photographing, and recording in state court proceedings subject to the rule's guidelines and judicial control.

Evidence excerpt: The broadcasting, televising, photographing, and recording of court proceedings in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, magistrate courts, and metropolitan courts of the State of New Mexico are hereby authorized in accordance with the guidelines promulgated herewith.

[Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rule-23-107-12-20-2018.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote proceedings conduct

Scope: statewide

New Mexico Judiciary remote-proceedings standards treat virtual courtrooms as formal courtroom settings and impose conduct expectations for remote participants.

Evidence excerpt: The courtroom, whether a physical in-person courtroom, or a virtual courtroom, remains a formal and serious setting where judges hear matters involving real people that affect real lives.

[New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/04/NEW-MEXICO-JUDICIARY-REMOTE-PROCEEDINGS-AND-MEETING-STANDARDS.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5142/edward-l-chavez/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5142/edward-l-chavez/)
- [New Mexico Supreme Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5142/edward-l-chavez/)
- [Rule 23-107. Broadcasting, televising, photographing and recording of court proceedings](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rule-23-107-12-20-2018.pdf)
- [New Mexico Judiciary Remote Proceedings and Meeting Standards](https://firstdistrict.nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/04/NEW-MEXICO-JUDICIARY-REMOTE-PROCEEDINGS-AND-MEETING-STANDARDS.pdf)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5142/edward-l-chavez/)
- [Edward Chavez - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Chavez)
- [Wikidata: Edward L. Chavez](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5343995)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-l-chavez-5142",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-l-chavez-5142",
      "name": "Edward L. Chavez | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Edward L. Chavez, New Mexico Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-l-chavez-5142#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-l-chavez-5142#judge",
      "name": "Edward L. Chavez",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-l-chavez-5142",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "New Mexico Supreme Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5142/edward-l-chavez/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1956",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of New Mexico School of Law in 1981"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Eastern New Mexico University"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of New Mexico School of Law"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of New Mexico"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "New Mexico",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-mexico"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Edward L. Chavez",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edward-l-chavez-5142"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```