Judge teaches through his example the value of faith

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Judge Andrew Valdez has been the juvenile court judge in Third District since 1993.

SALT LAKE CITY - “Faith is important because faith is what gives you hope,” said Judge Andrew Valdez.

Judge Valdez was born and raised in Utah in the Catholic religion. His mother raised him and three siblings after their father left.

“The most important things to teach young people are discipline and structure,” said Valdez, referring to the teachings left by his mother, who used to have two or three jobs at the same time and spent just a few moments with her kids. “My mom show me strength and her commitment not only to her faith. She wanted to make sure that we her kids grew up with a strong work ethic and success ethic.”

That hard work and those ethics have earned him, among other distinctions, to be the juvenile court judge in Third District since 1993. Prior to his appointment to the bench in 1993, he was a captain in the United States Army J.A.G. Corps, and a trial counsel with the Legal Defenders Association Felony and Homicide Division. Valdez also has served as chair person of the statewide Youth Parole Authority and on the Utah Sentencing Commission, the Board of Trustees for Primary Children’s Medical Center, the Juvenile Justice Task Force, the Board of Juvenile Court Judges, the Judicial Council and is currently a member of the National Youth Gang Center.

Judge Valdez has been honored with the Martin Luther King Civil Rights Award by the NAACP, Footprinter’s Association Law Enforcement Office of the Year Award, Utah Children Advocate of the Year Award, Utah State Bar Judge of the Year Award, Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Award, and the Pete Suazo Community Service Award.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, he has published a book, “No One Makes It Alone,” in which he narrates the story of his mentoring relationship that began with Jack Keller, owner of a downtown Salt Lake City print shop.

“It describes struggles that I had when I was young and how I overcome those troubles, not only in my family but my community,” said Valdez.

The 11-year-old Valdez sold newspapers every day on the corner of Second South and Main Street, and that’s the place that Keller took him under his wing. Keller also introduced him to the sport of tennis.

“When I learned how to play tennis it not only changed my world because of the different places I went to, it also changed my identity. I became a tennis player that was going to go to college one day, instead of a street kid,” said Valdez.

In his book, Valdez quotes Keller as saying, “If you play tennis, you will go to college, and sports will teach you how to get along.’”

Valdez has followed Keller’s example. Thousands of young lives have been changed through court programs established by him: mentoring programs, tutoring programs a sports program.

“If I asked my mom how did I come to where I am now she would say, ‘Because I pray every day for you,” said Valdez.