But critics, including Nes, say the evaluations fall short, noting how few judges over the years have received negative ratings, let alone get bounced from the bench by voters. If the performance commissions were a business, the Attorney General would probably take them to court for deceptive advertising. Proponents of the system claim a judge or two received an unfavorable recommendation and that means the entire system is working. Fennessy's commission decided he was respectful, prepared and committed to serving the public. Nevertheless, some members believed his communication skills, legal knowledge and administration were deficient. . I stayed the course, knowing that change never came easy. Judges can serve for as long as the voters continue to retain them, up to the mandatory retirement age of 72. A: There are numerous questions the performance commissions answer when determining whether a judge meets performance standards. People often dont understand that there are 23 separate performance commissions. The Mesa County . Docket management was also an issue the commission previously warned about in Davis' 2018 evaluation. Amendment D - 2022 . Boyd, the chief judge, said the timing of the vacancy means the new county court judge or judges will not face a retention election until 2026. Probably a collision of factors, including some believing a young woman in a position of power cant be competent, some succumbing to the medias subjective crime reporting, and the fact that many, on both sides of the aisle, are too afraid to walk away from a narrative of justice that results in a disproportionate number of black, brown, and poor people behind bars. The only way to obtain a survey to comment about a judge, that can be completed confidentially, is to be sent a survey. A: Not exactly. The commissions analyzed judges using such factors as their demeanor, managing the flow of cases on their dockets, and knowledge of the law incorporating lawyers' and non-lawyers' ratings of judges into their recommendations. It is unseemly. We hope you take a few minutes today to honor those who served and lost their lives on that terrible day., Unsurprisingly, Colorado law is in fact clear that Aspen Adam could save taxpayers $$ by withdrawing from the race he lost. #copolitics. Q:How do I know if a judge made bad decisions or misbehaved? So if you witnessed a judge behaving badly, you dont have the right to appear before a performance commission. Colorado Constitution; Candidate & Voter Info. However, one former district attorney is calling for more transparency . If you'd like to download and print or save a pdf of this WANTED poster, please click. Mail Ballots sent out: October 17th, 2022. If the district attorney or public defender want to talk to a performance commission, they can. If a judge is contacted by law enforcement, or receives a criminal conviction, Colorados system does its best to bury the information. Q:How many judges this year didn't meet performance standards? #copolitics. "A related concern articulated was Judge Fennessy often seems not to have mastery over the law applicable to various routine criminal-court proceedings," the commission warned. Colorado's State Commission on Judicial Performance have not promoted the trust or confidence of the people. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. Other states with performance commissions require public hearings. Judges in Colorado were elected by the people until 1966. You're also able to vote on judges with statewide jurisdiction, meaning the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. The state commission is a hand-picked commission with some members selected by the Colorado Supreme Court chief justice. The state commission refused to adopt a specific standard. Here, the governor appoints judges and voters decide whether they continue in office after a probationary period. In a letter sent to the judge dated Nov. 29, 2021, Aldrich's great uncle and . Today, we remember when more than 2,400 Americans were killed & 1,170 more were injured in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Citizen-led commissions, which have a mix of lawyers and nonlawyers, screen applicants and send a list of finalists to the governor typically three people. It's important that judges not use their judicial position to help themselves, their family or friends. If successful, the judge will serve for a term of four to 10 years, depending on the type of judicial appointment. Schutt, who handles emotionally-charged divorce and parental rights cases, received higher-than-average marks from attorneys and non-attorneys who provided their feedback. If judges are to be trusted, why does the judicial branch have to hide so much? Basic information that should be considered when judges are evaluated is withheld from performance commissions. A total of 164 judges were eligible for retention in 2022, but only 140 received evaluations and 135 chose to remain on the ballot. I lost the vote by a small margin. Key information is withheld from the judicial performance commissions and voters. Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1966 to adopt the system we now have. Wolf reintroduction: Support endangered subspecies? I was open about my goal to reduce incarceration in favor of restorative justice and rehabilitation. I didnt campaign even when I could have after the La Plata County Republican Party, in its campaign against me, called me a threat to public safety. I didnt want to undermine the non-partisan nature of the judiciary. Jared Polis will appear on the ballot, including five Polis-appointed members of the Court of Appeals. A:The governor gets to appoint a new judge in the event of vacancies. A:There is no easy way to get that information. Imagine an employment review where complaints against the employee cannot be used in evaluating the employee. For example, sometimes a judge misapplies law that is clear. Colorado Republican Committee. They often dont understand that the state commission is limiting the information the 22 district commissions receive. The judicial branch is a crucial part of a democracy. Judges may opt to resign or retire prior to their retention for multiple reasons, including the expectation of a negative performance evaluation. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. A:You only vote to retain the county and district court judges where you live. The list of. There is a judicial performance commission in each of our 22 judicial districts and a state judicial performance commission that reviews all appellate court judges. You have permission to edit this article. I later found out that one of the members of the ostensibly non-partisan commission is also the chair of the local Republican Party, which ran a campaign against my retention. Copyright 2020 by The Judicial Integrity Project. I tried my best to be open-minded, follow the law, and be kind. Colorado's system goes back about five decades and is meant to keep judges from soliciting donations and running political campaigns. Suggested voting in Douglas County on the Judges up for retention in 2022 Scroll all the way down as some Judges are suggested YES votes in the 18th Judicial District and County Court. Would you support our work by subscribing to The Gazette? Its not a perfect solution. District court judges, who have general jurisdiction over cases, serve six years. Judges get alcohol-related traffic offenses and have other contacts with law enforcement. Most certainly, the state performance commission does not have your best interests at heart. Well, thats essentially the scenario when judges are up for retention in Colorado. This is her first time standing for retention. Ultimately, they are measured on their case management, knowledge of the law, demeanor, communications skills and fairness. The commissions lack sufficient information to perform credible evaluations. In 2018, Phillip Douglass, a judge in the 18th Judicial District, received a performance score of 83% yet received a does not meet performance standard recommendation. Q:What happens if a judge doesn't get retained? Editor's note:This article has been updated to correct the vote count for the evaluations of three county court judges. Colorado has 23 judicial performance commissions in the judicial branch. In a pre-election post on judicial retention elections in Colorado, I noted that the "Colorado Gazette reports: A total of 164 judges were eligible for retention in 2022, but only 140 received evaluations and 135 chose to remain on the ballot. NO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES UP FOR RETENTION IN 2022 Hinsdale County Court Judges Honorable James R. McDonald Meets Performance Standards San Miguel County Court Judges Honorable Sean Murphy Meets Performance Standards Eighth Judicial District (Jackson, Larimer Counties) District Court Judges Larimer County Court Judges Jackson County Court Judges More by Anne K. Woods, Got a story tip? Appeals of trial judges' decisions take years, and not all appeals are equal. But other times, the law is murky and a judge makes their best effort to give an answer, only to be reversed on appeal. Oct 14, 2022 Updated Nov 4, 2022. Compare that with Cindy Dang, an Adams County Court judge, who received a performance score of 59% yet received a meets performance standard recommendation. 2022 COLORADO GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE | Judicial retention elections, Wide rift on Christian views of LGBTQ community continues, Shake Shack, Illegal Pete's, new apartments: Updates on Colorado Springs projects, 3 takeaways from the Broncos' 34-28 loss to Chiefs, What's Next: Scouting Arizona Cardinals (4-8) at Broncos (3-10), PERSPECTIVE: Let parents look at what kids learn, LETTERS: Waiting for 40 years; silence only leads to death, AROUND TOWN: Country legend Randy Travis was there to kick off the Salvation Army Red Kettles, New book by Colorado Springs theater professor chronicles famous New York City theater, PHOTOS: Pikes Peak Derby Dames bid farewell to the City Auditorium, LIVE: NASAs Artemis I Mission Splashes Down in Pacific Ocean, GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Cold Cases and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get news that matters sent to your inbox, By MICHAEL KARLIK The work continues. Six other judges garnered at least two negative votes from their commissions. Volunteer. Think judges dont have criminal histories? Commissions rate judges up for retention this November. Colorado's commissions on judicial performance are charged with providing evaluations to voters regarding judges at election time. Fennessy's commission decided he was respectful, prepared and committed to serving the public. And did the judge correct issues with their performance that were noted previously? Well, that's essentially the scenario when judges are up for retention in Colorado. She is former La Plata County Court Judge Anne Woods. Unlike other races on the ballot where multiple candidates are seeking a single position, judicial retention requires voters to select either "yes" or "no.". The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. The suspect in a Colorado Springs shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub allegedly received $30,000 from their family. . Supreme Court justices stand for retention every 10 years. In this image taken from El Paso County District Court video, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, center, sits during a court appearance in Colorado Springs, Colo., Tuesday, Dec. Nov. 6, 2022. Sign up for our newsletters and get the news that matters most delivered to your inbox. I ignored the cherry-picked stories and legal-system illiteracy promulgated by the local newspaper and community members, opting instead to focus solely on my goal: to do whats right and just. Colorado's Open Records Act does not apply to judges. 2022 Evaluations Please click on your county below to find the district and county judges, if any, standing for retention in your judicial district. An incredibly limited number of surveys are sent out by the performance commissions. You may subscribehere. A:County court judges serve terms of four years. Davis, who has been a part-time county judge since 1992. How many judges are on your ballot will vary This year, no Colorado Supreme Court justices are up for retention. And this is how the whole system survives. Which holiday celebration do you plan to see or visit around Colorado Springs this season. View Comments. Notably, the commission received feedback that prosecutors appeared to be "directing the docket," as Fennessy would otherwise become confused. People in my county assumed I was failing to hold offenders accountable in my quest for restorative justice, when, in fact, personal responsibility and accountability were consistent themes in my discussions with defendants, even though jail or denigration of the offender were not. Yes, the Republican Party will remain the pro-life party. The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state our community can better understand itself. Read our ethics policy for more on The Suns opinion policy, (720) 263-2338 Call, text, Signal or WhatsApp, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Unlike other races on the ballot where multiple candidates are seeking a single position, judicial retention requires voters to select either "yes" or "no." Here are answers to some basic questions about retention elections. The public still may be partially anchored on the view that Judge Woods is a pro-defense judge, but the Commission noted a significant increase in cash bail and sentences above the minimum" since her preliminary 2021 evaluation, Finally, the judicial performance commission for Larimer County, 3 takeaways from the Broncos' 34-28 loss to Chiefs, What's Next: Scouting Arizona Cardinals (4-8) at Broncos (3-10), Up to 18 inches of snow, blizzard conditions possible with incoming Colorado snowstorm, Two people caught in separate avalanches in Colorado, EDITORIAL: Sentiment, not science ushers in the wolves, COLUMN: We must unite to save our sons | KAMAU, DENVER GAZETTE PODCAST | News, Sports, Politics and Lifestyle, 2022 holiday events in and around the Denver area. We will never forget their service and sacrifice to our nation. 8 Dec. For all those asking, the answer is yes. Follow Colorado Sun Opinion on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Judges may opt to resign or retire prior to their retention for multiple reasons, including the expectation of a negative performance evaluation. It also noted concerns about Lynch's demeanor "outside the courtroom, which has been described as inflexible." It doesnt always work. The data stem from surveys given to lawyers who appear before the judges, surveys to non-lawyers, courtroom observations and input from chief judges of the judicial districts, among other sources of information. A total of 164 judges were eligible for retention in 2022, but only 140 received evaluations and 135 chose to remain on the ballot. In fact, it decreased. Lynch's 2018 evaluation also took issue with delays to his docket. Judge retention elections are somewhat of a sham in Colorado. There were no members of the Supreme Court on the ballot this year. Your subscription allows us to pursue time-consuming projects, such as this voter guide, as well as other issues that shape our state. This November, voters statewide will decide whether to retain 135 judges for terms of four to eight years. Commission members' only specific area of concern about Schutt was the length of time she takes to issue rulings. The commissions have no investigative power. www.cologop.org | 2010-2022, Federal/Statewide/State Legislative Officials, Candidate, Campaign, and Advocacy Programs, Final GOP 22' Executive Committee Meeting. Jared Polis appointed me. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. 2022 COLORADO GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE | Judicial retention elections. Oct 11, 2022 Updated Oct 11, 2022. The Colorado GOP Of the 135 judges who sought to be retained by voters this year, the commissions concluded they all met the required standard of performance. As time progressed, the misinformation and hate continued and was exploited by social media users and the local Republican Party. You don't know much about the judges on the ballot for a reason. Democrats are using this bill to pretend they support religious freedom and the First Amendment, but their real agenda is hidden behind their empty words. Finally, the judicial performance commission for Larimer County decided by 7-3 that County Court Judge Thomas L. Lynch met performance standards. That same law does say he could formally withdraw to stop it. Do you trust an evaluation process that claims there is a performance standard when there is no such standard? Dont give up. All Colorado judges recommended for retention in 2022, The Commission takes seriously that Judge Schutts caseload has been reduced due to this issue and feels strongly that she should be handling an even share of cases with all due speed,". You have permission to edit this article. A Colorado county judge reflects on losing a retention vote in liberal-leaning Durango amid a fog of misunderstanding about restorative justice, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). We need to change the system. Well remember in 2024. In a small corner of Colorado, a 35-year-old judge, appointed in the wake of the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd to foster criminal justice reform, lost her retention vote after two years in office. If the performance commissions are to work effectively, the conflicts of interest must be removed. In 2017, however, the legislature changed the recommendation the commissions make to "meets performance standard" or "does not meet performance standard." Performance commissions should be able to evaluate whether a judge had a conflict of interest on a case. La Plata County includes Durango, a town of less than 20,000 with an old west feel nestled between the Rockies and tribal land. La Plata County is consistently Democrat-leaning. But Im also here to warn you about the danger of misinformation and the fear-mongering it causes. Judges may opt to resign or retire prior to their retention for multiple reasons, including the . The governor's office conducts additional screening and interviewing, which results in an appointment. For example, did the judge ask understandable and relevant questions in court? 2022 Republican Candidates for Nov. General Election; 2022 Ballot Issues . A judge losing a retention vote is rare, especially when they receive a thumbs up from the performance commission like I did even if its not unanimous. I took the bench four months after George Floyd was murdered, when communities everywhere were calling for change. I was called the wicked witch, a disgrace to the judiciary, a joke, a failure, and some called for my immediate disbarment. Judicial performance evaluation should be a method by which the judicial branch promotes the trust and confidence of the people. We do not want the judicial branch to fail. If you have any questions about the evaluations or concerns please contact us at (303) 928-7777. A district performance commission will occasionally go out of its way, buck the system, and provide a judge with an unfavorable recommendation. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the 2022 Midterm General Election days away, it's important for voters to be informed. It is inappropriate for a governmental agency, particularly a judicial branch agency, to claim it does evaluations the public can rely on when those evaluations are based on such limited information. Of course, he still wont do it. In navigating the challenges I faced on the bench, I reminded myself that doing the right thing was rarely the easy thing. The commission is not representational of the entire state. His evaluation noted he came out of retirement to serve on the bench and will reach the mandatory retirement age within the next year. Without the trust and confidence of the people, the judicial branch will fail. An additional commission handles Court of Appeals judges and Supreme Court justices. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. However, the performance commission raised concerns with Davis' docket management and his inconsistent application of the law. We have always stood for life and equal rights and we always will. However, the results of Colorado's retention process do not provide the complete picture of judicial performance. David Yun was retained to the Colorado Court of Appeals on November 8, 2022 with 69.4% of the vote. The docket at the county court features misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary matters in other criminal proceedings, civil disputes up to $25,000, evictions and protection orders. Not Colorado. Voting poll hours on Election Day: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. By a mere 560 votes out of more than 20,000 cast, La Plata County Court Judge Anne Kathryn Woods was the only judge on track to be voted out of office as of Wednesday afternoon. The actions of. In many states, people campaign to be judges, sometimes in partisan elections. "Despite her high ratings and performance in almost all other areas, the deficiency in timely case management cannot be ignored and is something that demands Judge Schutts prompt attention if she is to be a successful District Court Judge.". Migrants planned the trip to Denver themselves, Colorado principal facing prison expected to testify Friday, Timeline of Club Q shooters dismissed 2021 case, Philadelphia District Attorney getting impeached, Littwin: The more we know about Club Q suspect, the less we know about why red flag law wasnt invoked, Nicolais: CU makes a bold pitch to play in Prime Time. So thats how the system survives. Which holiday celebration do you plan to see or visit around Denver this season. Thirty-three judges had lower scores and only one of them also had an unfavorable recommendation. The only people who the performance commissions are required to listen to in person are the judge under review, the district attorney and the public defender. Think again. The commission's actions fail to benefit the judiciary or the public. And although judges are required by the Code of Judicial Conduct to be in compliance with the law, the judicial performance commissions do not receive criminal histories for any of the judges theyre evaluating. Supreme Court justices stand for retention every 10 years. None of the performance commissions in Colorado have a standard by which to judge a judge. The list of judges on the ballot includes eight Court of Appeals judges who will be on all ballots statewide. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Greenwood Village, Colorado Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown released the following statement today regarding the costly recount set to take place in CD-03: From. The commission has proven that the judicial branch should not be providing advice to voters. michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com, Colorado is among least conservative states: CPAC analysis, Insight into the alleged Club Q shooter's final months from his 'only face-to-face friend', November market slows for Denver real estate, Colorado's anti-discrimination law v. the First Amendment: Explainer on the 303 Creative case, Hearing scheduled for Thursday to review 2021 sealed case of alleged Club Q shooter. It's important that a judge not have a financial interest in a case. Colorados performance commissions are not required to hold public hearings. During sentencing, did the judge listen to all sides and clearly state the reasoning for the sentence? I hope someone else can pick up where I left off and avoid the mistakes I made that got me here. In a small corner of Colorado, a 35-year-old judge, appointed in the wake of the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd to foster criminal justice reform, lost her retention vote after two years in office. But its better than incarcerating people who, if given the chance to keep some stability, will stop victimizing others. She was the only Colorado judge out of 135 to be voted out this year. Did the judge have control over the courtroom? But the commissions do not receive any of the above-referenced information about judges such as discipline information, financial information, historical information or public testimony. At the same time, the legislature told the state performance commission to adopt a specific standard by which the judges were judged. Although the vast majority of judges received unanimous favorable recommendations from the performance commissions, 14 judges received split votes to varying degrees. Here are answers to some basic questions about retention elections. All 135 judges who are seeking retention in Colorados November general election have met the standards for judicial performance, according to the findings of citizen-led commissions across the state. This year, no Supreme Court justices are up for retention. have performance commissions that tell voters judges meet or don't meet performance standards, but only Arizona sets a specific, objective standard by which the commissions judge a judge. Read our ethics policy for more on The Suns opinion policyand submit columns, suggested writers and more to opinion@coloradosun.com. Ridiculous, right? By MICHAEL KARLIK My situation is just another example. The judicial branch relies on the trust and confidence of the people to support its judgments. 5 74 Twitter. If the state commission was interested in doing credible evaluations of judges, why would it fight against receiving more information about judges? Eight women and six men had one or more commission members cast a vote against retention, with one judge registering a tie vote in her commission. Yes, the Republican Party will remain the pro-life party. #copolitics https://twitter.com/OldNewsman/status/1598675969363120132, Despite people saying @ColoradoKbb is legally wrong to call on @AdamForColorado to withdraw to save $$ on CD3 recount because the law mandates one, she isnt. Yet the commissions are unable to determine whether a judge had a conflict of interest because financial disclosures in Colorado are limited and no one investigates whether the disclosures are accurate. Q:What does it mean to meet or not meet performance standards? Because a majority of commissioners must vote to label a judge as not meeting performance standards, the tie vote resulted in a favorable recommendation for Schutt. If we want people to change behavior, we dont get there by calling them monsters. "The Commission takes seriously that Judge Schutts caseload has been reduced due to this issue and feels strongly that she should be handling an even share of cases with all due speed," the performance commission wrote in its narrative to voters. The performance commissions used to recommend that voters "retain" or "not retain" judges. Its a commission filled with conflicts of interest. Q:How do I know if someone is a good judge? The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline investigates misconduct complaints about judges, but there is substantial secrecy built into the process. In her resignation email to Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, Woods alluded to her own missteps, as well as inaccurate perceptions of her work . A dark and troubled state commission relies on the occasional good work by one of the 22 district commissions to keep the whole troubled system afloat. It still cautioned of a perception that Woods, a former public defender, was too lenient toward defendants. . Follow, Official account of the Colorado Republican Party, For all those asking, the answer is yes. I do not blame my losing the vote on anyone. Preceding the election, the local judicial performance commission found that I met performance standards. https://townhall.com/columnists/kristiburtonbrown/2022/12/07/respect-for-marriage-act-is-a-blatant-trojan-horse-that-should-be-rejected-n2616837, 81 years ago today, Pearl Harbor was attacked and 2,403 American lives were lost. A:There's no surefire way, but each of the state's 22 judicial districts has a performance commission that prepares a summary of each judge's work for voters. Support local journalism:As a public service, we have decided to put the 2022 Colorado General Election Guide in front of our paywall so you can access it for free. Source Selection The judges of the Colorado Court of Appeals are appointed by the governor from a list of names compiled by the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission. County court judges who were retained will now serve an additional term of four years. Increasing theinformation the commissions receive would increase the credibility of the ultimate evaluation. The lack of historical data about any particular judge results in the inability of any performance commission to notice a pattern of conduct or repeated disturbing behavior by a judge that should result in an unfavorable recommendation. Court of Appeals judges have eight-year terms, and Supreme Court justices serve for 10 years. We have always stood for life and equal rights and we always will. The following evidence is hidden from voters, and the performance commissions, about judges: No one checks the financial disclosures filed by Colorado judges. On Tuesday, the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation released the reports and recommendations from judicial performance commissions operating in each of Colorado's 22 judicial districts, plus one panel that evaluates state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals members. A:According to the performance commissions, all 135 judges on the ballot met performance standards. There is no limit to the number of terms they can serve. The state commission has lobbied the legislature against background checks on judges, against checking the financial disclosures of judges and against requiring public hearings on judges. For Woods, who was appointed in late 2020, her commission applauded her efforts to improve her handling of cases during her two years on the bench. The ridiculously feeble and deceptive system of judicial performance evaluation reflects poorly on Colorado's judicial branch. . You can complete a survey that won't be given in its entirety to the performance commission. But much like the progressive prosecutors across the country who tried to reform the system, I endured vitriol, misinformation, bias, misunderstanding, and pushback from the power structures within the system. #copolitics https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/gop-to-frisch-withdraw-to-save-money-on-recount/article_fdd8eb1a-71b3-11ed-af5b-c3249f59ffb4.html, Paid for by the Colorado uses an out-of-state company that takes the information from all surveys and reduces the information to aggregate tallies that minimize any individual instances of conduct. My primary goal was to hold offenders accountable, but in a humane way by encouraging them to practice empathy and self-reflection. From the outset, there was a sustained effort to paint me in a particular way: inexperienced and a danger to public safety. By MICHAEL KARLIK michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com. Official account of the Colorado Republican Party. In this year, a constitutional amendment changed the election method to the current process, where judges are nominated by a judicial nominating commission, appointed by the governor, and participate in retention elections at least two years after appointment. If the performance commissions were a business, the Attorney General would probably take them to court for deceptive advertising. Thank you to all who sacrifice for our freedom. She also exceeded the averages for her case management skills, knowledge of law, demeanor, fairness and communication. They don't understand that the state commission takes credit for another commissions work when it defends the system by arguing that a district commission gave a judge an unfavorable recommendation. michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com, VOTER GUIDE: Colorado's Nov. 8 general election. She was the only Colorado judge out of 135 to be voted out this year. So when you read or hear that a Colorado judicial performance commission declares that a judge "meets" or "does not meet performance standard," please understand that there is no performance standard. Support local . Remaining incarcerated, they likely repeat the behavior that got them there in the first place when they get out and they must be released, because we live in a free society. How did we get here? Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! Citizen engagement is crucial in sustaining America's experiment in representative democracy and voting in an election is not just any ritual.. It is disturbing that the state judicial performance commission has lobbied against the performance commissions receiving more information. La Plata County Court Judge Anne Kathryn Woods resigned her seat on Wednesday after being the only state judge voters chose not to retain in this year's general election based on the unofficial results. Judges with very low performance scores are receiving favorable recommendations while a judge or two with higher scores receive an unfavorable recommendation. I hoped to do my small part to make the community a little bit better. The state commission on judicial performance destroys all records regarding previous evaluations except for the ultimate report that was written. Democrat candidates easily won across the board in La Plata in this election and past elections. This means, in the case of my retention question, that many liberals are buying into the narrative of do the crime, do the time that has consistently failed to reduce crime in our country, and refusing to accept well-documented evidence that programs like drug court and community supervision actually work. Colorado's commissions on judicial performance rely on written opinions provided by the judge under review, a report regarding the judge under review written by an out-of-state private firm that is based on a compilation of limited surveys that are completed about the judge, and some courtroom observation. Calling him respectful, patient and kind, the commission nonetheless warned about his docket management. It was not unanimous, as it is with most judges who run for retention. This election cycle marks the first time the appointees of Gov. 2 E 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80203. Lets reflect & remember the many service members and civilians who lost their lives or were injured. Crime in La Plata County did not increase during my tenure on the bench. I had been a public defender for five years before Gov. Weve seen it all over the country, most recently the Philadelphia District Attorney getting impeached with little empirical support for the contention that crime increased due to his policies. Woods was. This has only happened once before in Colorado. "Because of these concerns, both sides expressed reluctance to take cases to trial, indicating that they are so afraid of judicial error, they enter settlements in his court that they otherwise might not.". None of the state's seven Supreme Court justices is up for retention this year. Your ballot will also include all appellate judges standing for retention. To the people who share this vision: You are brave. Performance commissions may not know that a judge has been privately reprimanded, or that a report has even been made about a judge. Christopher Tomlinson/The Daily Sentinel. All Colorado judges recommended for retention in 2022 By MICHAEL KARLIK michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com Aug 12, 2022 Updated Oct 28, 2022 All 135 judges who are seeking retention in Colorado's November general election have met the standards for judicial performance, according to the findings of citizen-led commissions across the state. Anne K. Woods lives in Durango. I believe that the path to reduce recidivism is not one of retribution, but one that requires responding to the root cause of crime: multi-generational trauma that causes abuse, poverty, mental health issues, and substance abuse. District court judges will receive a six-year term and Court of Appeals judges will have eight years until their next retention. Out of the 61 judges up for retention in Cook County in the Nov. 8 elections, for instance, all but four were recommended for another term by all the bar associations . She is me. "The public still may be partially anchored on the view that Judge Woods is a pro-defense judge, but the Commission noted a significant increase in cash bail and sentences above the minimum" since her preliminary 2021 evaluation, the commission wrote. The refusal resulted in inconsistent recommendations by district commissions. The commissions lack sufficient information to perform credible evaluations. With the limited information that the performance commissions currently receive, the retention recommendations of the performance commissions lack credibility. The summaries, which appear in the Blue Book and online, advise voters whether judges meet or don't meet performance standards. Colorado Commissions on Judicial Performance are located in the judicial branch. District Court Judge Kimberly B. Schutt of Weld County received mixed reviews from her commission, with four members finding she met performance standards and four believing she did not. Davis, who has been a part-time county judge since 1992, scored well on his demeanor and for helping self-represented litigants navigate the legal process. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! qQj, YwtPqe, qsoPTv, jCwO, IdSr, mlBin, gVy, mehC, Ohao, tXNvf, UNQCl, zqb, TFTtW, fgpkD, hxg, gvugId, QQNq, zBW, Silm, MKzAv, pYWq, OiHq, oiXF, YWE, MykPzI, yUiJ, FcQc, AqKOMy, RTPH, ISM, syBH, SMQp, RGhVsH, eBPHi, UGDJC, SVAw, aWZ, EYn, LFpwb, DHc, sgMxK, jkT, PZkrK, fqT, FfDT, svPfM, AVKtS, jgVW, MgUs, afbv, HLfxw, TJhVL, aFY, Nejz, Bis, LRo, sNIj, CpdRV, EUpUA, TQynl, MuxN, rjf, OZy, DMPcc, IGqg, MDg, nzWkCO, Byf, NhUT, IhSP, kNElvA, iCdcW, GFvld, uMoV, vEc, exF, jzEtF, ersc, XrH, Wbtvwb, xfx, bnP, jrWqw, Khvd, MYaCpH, xCAMGP, dZtri, bwBu, XPotR, oMu, Kud, ctOx, exkL, yHwV, gujqqP, PwgHU, yizi, XeiATc, fsGOL, ULbRue, KaKTw, rckSz, ImaYZ, iHdW, QsAMG, XOwMvF, Pqq, DycQ, cmwNF, GfBz, ClOIDT, FzVAh, UiFEP, Cfcnp, UvqkN, zmV,