The Honorable
Stan Whittaker, ret. (2006-2024)

Judge Stan Whitaker was born in Denver, Colorado. His family moved to Albuquerque in 1962 when his stepfather helped start the Quarters Restaurant on Yale Blvd. Judge Whitaker grew up in Albuquerque graduating from Sandia High School in 1975. He attended the University of Kansas on a track scholarship from 1975 to 1980, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. He attended Law School at The University of New Mexico School of Law earning his Juris Doctorate in 1989.

After law school he worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Felony Child Abuse/Family Crimes Unit with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office from 1993 to 1996. He also worked as a Special Commissioner for Domestic Violence with the Second Judicial District Court from 1996 to 2002. From 2002-2006 he worked as an Assistant United States Attorney, Firearms/Violent Crimes Division from 2002 to 2006 (prosecuted federal firearms and violent crime cases in Indian Country throughout the State of New Mexico). In June of 2006 he was appointed by then Governor Bill Richardson to the bench as a District Judge with the Second Judicial District Court presiding over Domestic Relations cases and felony criminal matters. He served as the Chief Presiding Judge of the Second Judicial District Court from 2019 to 2022, becoming the first Black District Court Chief Presiding Judge. Judge Whitaker retired from the bench in December of 2024.

Judge Whitaker has been married to his high school sweetheart (Barbra) for 46 years. They have two grown children and one darling granddaughter (Gigi).