Robert S. Windhorst | Magistrate Judge

About

A lifelong neighbor. A proven public servant.

Robert S. Windhorst is a longtime Cibola County resident, former County Commissioner, and family man dedicated to fairness and community. He has lived and worked alongside the people of Grants and surrounding communities, and he understands the values that hold this county together.

Grounded in local pride and a steady sense of responsibility, Robert believes the Magistrate Court should treat every person with respect, apply the law evenly, and reflect the common-sense judgment of Cibola County.

Robert S. Windhorst in Grants, New Mexico

Qualifications

What Qualifies You for This Office?

Robert S. Windhorst at the Cibola County Public Safety Complex, where he is recognized as County Commissioner

I served a two-year mission for my church in the Philippines from 1977 to 1979. I have been married for 43 years. My wife and I have raised nine children, and we have 14 grandchildren.

I studied political science at BYU and owned my own business for many years. I was also a realtor for 17 years. I have served on numerous professional boards and have always been active in any community I have lived.

I have been elected two terms as a Cibola County Commissioner for District 4 and served honorably.

For the past 11 years, I have worked for the City of Grants in planning and zoning and code enforcement. This gave me experience with going to municipal and magistrate court to handle citations filed with both courts.

Challenges

The major challenges when serving as a magistrate judge.

Given that the magistrate court is the gateway court for the higher courts and has a heavy flow of cases that come before it every day, this presents challenges.

The magistrate court also has issues with some of the courthouses they inhabit. Magistrate courts don’t always get the funds they need to rehab or build new courthouses.

Another challenge is staffing and retaining staff. Court staff are very important to taking care of all the people, paperwork, and keeping everything on the calendar running smoothly.

Magistrate judges must face re-election every four years in partisan elections, which can bring political pressure on magistrate judges. Avoiding bias at all costs protects magistrate judges.

Improvements

The most effective methods to improve magistrate court procedures and efficiency.

Leadership is always top-down. If the magistrate court judge conducts himself in a professional, organized, and respectful manner, the court staff will step up and do the same. This will happen with continuing education and training.

Funds from the state to keep the court running means that magistrate court judges should be able to read a budget and adhere to it.

One of my concerns will always be court safety, and I, if elected, will petition the state to implement better safety technology to protect the court and the public that comes before the court. We do have a metal detector; however, we should be more proactive in the security of the magistrate court.

I will work full time and beyond to keep the court’s business moving forward.

Family

Family first. Community always.

Family and community values are at the heart of who Robert is. They shape how he listens, how he leads, and how he will serve on the Magistrate Court — with patience, humility, and care for the people who appear before him.

Robert S. Windhorst with his extended family

More About Me

What other information would you like voters to know about you?

I have built a reputation throughout my life of helping those around me to succeed and move forward. My wife and I have raised a large family, and we are very pleased with the result.

I believe in having respect for all people, no matter what their situation is. I believe in doing the right thing for the right reason. I will be fair, firm, and consistent in my rulings, and will follow the law.

I have cufflinks my father had when he went to law school — Lady Justice wearing a blindfold, holding the scales of justice. People come to court for many reasons. They should always be able to depend on the magistrate court judge to be fair and unbiased. I will be that kind of magistrate judge.

Why I’m Running

Fairness. Common sense. Local understanding.

I’m running for Magistrate Judge because Cibola County deserves a court that is fair, practical, and grounded in local life. I want to bring integrity to every case, common sense to every decision, and a deep respect for the people of Grants and Cibola County — the same neighbors I’ve worked with and lived among for years.

— Robert S. Windhorst

Get Involved

Join the campaign

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Robert S. Windhorst for Magistrate Judge