Jerald “Jerry” Valentine, age 78, passed away in Las Cruces on October 26, 2021. He was born November 27, 1942 in Clovis, NM to Nadine and J.A. Valentine. Jerry graduated from Clovis High School in May of 1960. He attended New Mexico State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. During this time he was a work study student employed by NMSU Physical Science Laboratory which included work in Brazil at a naval satellite tracking site and work at White Sands Missile Range. He graduated from NMSU in 1966.
After Graduation he was employed by the DuPont Company and worked as a mechanical engineer at Sabine River Works in Orange, Texas. He resigned from the DuPont Company to enroll in law school at the University of Texas in Austin graduating in December 1971. He started law practice in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1972. He served one year as the President of the Dona Ana Bar Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the New Mexico State University Alumni Association and which included his one year as its Chairman. For several years he lectured on Products Liability for Mechanical Engineering classes.
After 21 years of private law practice including a stint as a contract public defender, he was appointed to the position of District Judge of the Third Judicial District in June 1993 by former Gov. Bruce King. He served primarily as Civil Division Judge but his case load also included serving as Presiding Judge on several major criminal law cases.
For approximately six years he served as the Presiding Judge for the Lower Rio Grande Stream Adjudication. He wrote a paper on water law published by the National Center for State Courts. He served as Chief Judge on the Third Judicial District for five years. He was appointed by the New Mexico Supreme Court serve on numerous statewide judicial committees, including among others, Chair of the state Judicial Strategic Plan and Chair of the Judicial Performance Committee. He served one year as the State District Judges Association President of New Mexico. Jerry retired from the bench in December 2010. When he retired he was awarded the Justice Seth D. Montgomery Distinguished Judicial Service Award. Jerry’s hobby was wood working. He designed his home and did finish work for his home.
Jerry is survived by his sister Lyndal Valentine Benedict and her husband Thomas Benedict, his brother Jack Valentine and wife Linda and numerous nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grandnieces.
