Hon. Henry A. Alaniz (Ret.) was a judge for the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in New Mexico. He was appointed to the bench in 2011. Alaniz retired on December 31, 2021.
While on the bench, he presided in the Criminal Divison and over the Homeless Court and Community Veterans Court. Alaniz was also elected to serve a three-year term as Chief Judge of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in 2014.
Prior to his appointment, his legal career included working as a private practice attorney, an assistant district attorney with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office (1997 to 2002), and a hearing officer for the New Mexico Gaming Control.
Alaniz received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern New Mexico University and an M.B.A. from the University of New Mexico, Anderson School of Management. He went on to complete a J.D. at the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1996.
Alaniz was a president of the State Bar of New Mexico and served on the Judicial Nominating Commissions, the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners, and the Character and Fitness Committee (co-chair). He was also involved with the Popejoy Foundation Board and served as a part-time instructor at Central New Mexico Community College.
He was awarded the Seth D. Montgomery Distinguished Judicial Service Award by the State Bar of New Mexico in 2022.
Alaniz was raised in Roswell, New Mexico.