Phoenix Municipal Court Building Renamed in Honor of Judge Valdemar A. Cordova

Oct. 22, 2002

The Phoenix Municipal Court will be renamed the Phoenix Municipal Court Valdemar A. Cordova Building. Cordova served as a member of the Phoenix City Council from 1955 to 1959 and later served as a Maricopa County Superior Court judge. In 1979 he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as a federal judge, making him the first Mexican-American in Arizona to hold such a post and among the first nationwide.

Attending the renaming ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at the Phoenix Municipal Court atrium, 300 W. Washington St., will be U. S. Congressman Ed Pastor; Phoenix City Councilmember Michael Johnson, District 8; City Councilman Phil Gordon, District 4; B. Robert Dorfman, chief presiding judge, Phoenix Municipal Court; John Driggs, chairman, Phoenix Heritage Commission; Virginia Herrera-Gonzales, Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association; and members of Judge Cordova's family.

Congressman Pastor submitted the naming nomination to the Phoenix Heritage Commission and it was approved by the Phoenix City Council. In his letter to the commission, Pastor noted, "As a lifelong resident of Phoenix, former City Councilman, and first Hispanic Federal Judge in Arizona, Valdemar A. Cordova is an exemplary person for which to name the Municipal Court. He served the community with distinction and honor and ensured fair and equal justice to all."

The Heritage Commission was established by the Phoenix City Council to develop guidelines and review proposals for the naming or renaming of city facilities. Facilities may be named after individuals, living or deceased, or a geographic landmark or area.

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