David Chávez

David Chávez Jr. was an American attorney and jurist who served as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from 1947 to 1950, and as a justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court from 1960 to 1968.

Early life and education

Chávez was born in Los Chaves in Valencia County and grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He served in the United States Army during World War I. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Mexico and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Career

Chávez served as mayor of Santa Fe from 1932 to 1934. From 1936 to 1942 he was a District Judge at the First Judicial District in Santa Fe. Chávez C5 resigned to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II and returned to the bench after the war. He served in the Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps and participated in the prosecution of 40 Dachau concentration camp guards. The U.S. Army awarded Colonel Chavez a bronze star medal for his service prosecuting Nazi war criminals. He was appointed to the judgeship of the Puerto Rico District by President Harry S. Truman and served from 1947 to 1950. He returned to New Mexico in 1950 to run unsuccessfully for Governor. He worked in private practice in Santa Fe until Governor Burroughs appointed him to the New Mexico Supreme Court in 1959. Chávez served on the New Mexico Supreme Court from 1960 until 1968.

Personal life

He was the brother of United States Senator Dennis Chávez. He died in Las Vegas, New Mexico.