Commissions rate judges up for retention this November. That same law does say he could formally withdraw to stop it. Its not a perfect solution. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. Support local . The commissions have no investigative power. I stayed the course, knowing that change never came easy. This is her first time standing for retention. I hoped to do my small part to make the community a little bit better. If the performance commissions were a business, the Attorney General would probably take them to court for deceptive advertising. 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. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. My primary goal was to hold offenders accountable, but in a humane way by encouraging them to practice empathy and self-reflection. To the people who share this vision: You are brave. She is former La Plata County Court Judge Anne Woods. The state commission is a hand-picked commission with some members selected by the Colorado Supreme Court chief justice. 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. Unlike other races on the ballot where multiple candidates are seeking a single position, judicial retention requires voters to select either "yes" or "no.". 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. 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. It's important that a judge not have a financial interest in a case. The commission is not representational of the entire state. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Think judges dont have criminal histories? We have always stood for life and equal rights and we always will. 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. The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. In her resignation email to Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, Woods alluded to her own missteps, as well as inaccurate perceptions of her work . If judges are to be trusted, why does the judicial branch have to hide so much? This has only happened once before in Colorado. Supreme Court justices stand for retention every 10 years. I do not blame my losing the vote on anyone. The suspect in a Colorado Springs shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub allegedly received $30,000 from their family. None of the performance commissions in Colorado have a standard by which to judge a judge. 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. 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. 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. I had been a public defender for five years before Gov. Volunteer. Basic information that should be considered when judges are evaluated is withheld from performance commissions. We have always stood for life and equal rights and we always will. Judges get alcohol-related traffic offenses and have other contacts with law enforcement. How many judges are on your ballot will vary This year, no Colorado Supreme Court justices are up for retention. Well remember in 2024. How many judges are on your ballot will vary This year, no Colorado Supreme Court justices are up for retention. 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. It was not unanimous, as it is with most judges who run for retention. You may subscribehere. My situation is just another example. 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. The role of voters in deciding retention questions, however . From the outset, there was a sustained effort to paint me in a particular way: inexperienced and a danger to public safety. Do you trust an evaluation process that claims there is a performance standard when there is no such standard? Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Colorado has 23 judicial performance commissions in the judicial branch. Donate; Home; About Us. His evaluation noted he came out of retirement to serve on the bench and will reach the mandatory retirement age within the next year. 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. Colorado's system goes back about five decades and is meant to keep judges from soliciting donations and running political campaigns. The judicial branch relies on the trust and confidence of the people to support its judgments. 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. A total of 164 judges were eligible for retention in 2022, but only 140 received evaluations and 135 chose to remain on the ballot. Supreme Court justices stand for retention every 10 years. You don't know much about the judges on the ballot for a reason. 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. 2022 COLORADO GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE | Judicial retention elections. If the state commission was interested in doing credible evaluations of judges, why would it fight against receiving more information about judges? Appeals of trial judges' decisions take years, and not all appeals are equal. Colorado Republican Committee. Ridiculous, right? Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1966 to adopt the system we now have. Read our ethics policy for more on The Suns opinion policyand submit columns, suggested writers and more to opinion@coloradosun.com. 2022 Republican Candidates for Nov. General Election; 2022 Ballot Issues . . 2 E 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80203. For example, did the judge ask understandable and relevant questions in court? 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. Imagine an employment review where complaints against the employee cannot be used in evaluating the employee. Judges may opt to resign or retire prior to their retention for multiple reasons, including the . She was the only Colorado judge out of 135 to be voted out this year. 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. 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 Fennessy's commission decided he was respectful, prepared and committed to serving the public. By MICHAEL KARLIK Judges can serve for as long as the voters continue to retain them, up to the mandatory retirement age of 72. Amendment D - 2022 . Judges may opt to resign or retire prior to their retention for multiple reasons, including the expectation of a negative performance evaluation. "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 commission charged with informing you about judges has actively opposed receiving more information about judges. Yes, the Republican Party will remain the pro-life party. Judicial performance evaluation should be a method by which the judicial branch promotes the trust and confidence of the people. A:County court judges serve terms of four years. 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. So thats how the system survives. The commission has proven that the judicial branch should not be providing advice to voters. La Plata County includes Durango, a town of less than 20,000 with an old west feel nestled between the Rockies and tribal land. We will never forget their service and sacrifice to our nation. Increasing theinformation the commissions receive would increase the credibility of the ultimate evaluation. So if you witnessed a judge behaving badly, you dont have the right to appear before a performance commission. In a letter sent to the judge dated Nov. 29, 2021, Aldrich's great uncle and . 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. Ultimately, they are measured on their case management, knowledge of the law, demeanor, communications skills and fairness. There were no members of the Supreme Court on the ballot this year. 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. Finally, the judicial performance commission for Larimer County decided by 7-3 that County Court Judge Thomas L. Lynch met performance standards. 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 Today, we remember when more than 2,400 Americans were killed & 1,170 more were injured in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Although the vast majority of judges received unanimous favorable recommendations from the performance commissions, 14 judges received split votes to varying degrees. Mail Ballots sent out: October 17th, 2022. 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 . Crime in La Plata County did not increase during my tenure on the bench. David Yun was retained to the Colorado Court of Appeals on November 8, 2022 with 69.4% of the vote. The commissions claim they have a standard by which they evaluate a judge when there is no such standard. View Comments. 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. 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. I lost the vote by a small margin. 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. Which holiday celebration do you plan to see or visit around Denver this season. District court judges, who have general jurisdiction over cases, serve six years. 8 Dec. For all those asking, the answer is yes. 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. 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. Q:What does it mean to meet or not meet performance standards? And many times, people who commit crimes were victims themselves. 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. At the same time, the legislature told the state performance commission to adopt a specific standard by which the judges were judged. An incredibly limited number of surveys are sent out by the performance commissions. Here are answers to some basic questions about retention elections. Anne K. Woods lives in Durango. Christopher Tomlinson/The Daily Sentinel. A: There are numerous questions the performance commissions answer when determining whether a judge meets performance standards. The performance commissions used to recommend that voters "retain" or "not retain" judges. 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. 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. It still cautioned of a perception that Woods, a former public defender, was too lenient toward defendants. "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. Fennessy's commission decided he was respectful, prepared and committed to serving the public. Follow, Official account of the Colorado Republican Party, For all those asking, the answer is yes. Most certainly, the state performance commission does not have your best interests at heart. Editor's note:This article has been updated to correct the vote count for the evaluations of three county court judges. By MICHAEL KARLIK michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com. During sentencing, did the judge listen to all sides and clearly state the reasoning for the sentence? There is no limit to the number of terms they can serve. The most narrowly-divided evaluations involved Kiowa County Court Judge Gary W. Davis, Rio Blanco County Court Judge Joe Fennessy and La Plata County Court Judge Anne Kathryn Woods allof whom received 6-3 or 5-2 votes deeming they met performance standards. 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. Woods was. 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. She is me. Dont give up. 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. 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. 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. "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. But its better than incarcerating people who, if given the chance to keep some stability, will stop victimizing others. The summaries, which appear in the Blue Book and online, advise voters whether judges meet or don't meet performance standards. Citizen engagement is crucial in sustaining America's experiment in representative democracy and voting in an election is not just any ritual.. Preceding the election, the local judicial performance commission found that I met performance standards. If the performance commissions were a business, the Attorney General would probably take them to court for deceptive advertising. Here, the governor appoints judges and voters decide whether they continue in office after a probationary period. "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.". Copyright 2020 by The Judicial Integrity Project. The work continues. The refusal resulted in inconsistent recommendations by district commissions. You can complete a survey that won't be given in its entirety to the performance commission. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline investigates misconduct complaints about judges, but there is substantial secrecy built into the process. 5 74 Twitter. Did the judge have control over the courtroom? A district performance commission will occasionally go out of its way, buck the system, and provide a judge with an unfavorable recommendation. 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. And e. ven if you receive a confidential survey, the information in the survey form you complete will not be provided as a whole to the performance commissions. For example, sometimes a judge misapplies law that is clear. 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). . Davis, who has been a part-time county judge since 1992. In navigating the challenges I faced on the bench, I reminded myself that doing the right thing was rarely the easy thing. She was the only Colorado judge out of 135 to be voted out this year. Performance commissions should be able to evaluate whether a judge had a conflict of interest on a case. I tried my best to be open-minded, follow the law, and be kind. A:There is no easy way to get that information. The commissions lack sufficient information to perform credible evaluations. A:According to the performance commissions, all 135 judges on the ballot met performance standards. 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. Once the governor appoints a judge, he or she will face a retention vote after approximately two years. But Colorado judge evaluations are based on an intentionally limited amount of information. Jared Polis appointed me. 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. michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com, VOTER GUIDE: Colorado's Nov. 8 general election. Colorados performance commissions are not required to hold public hearings. In fact, it decreased. The hiding and destruction of pertinent evidence is not consistent with judicial integrity. 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. It also noted concerns about Lynch's demeanor "outside the courtroom, which has been described as inflexible." 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. Opinion: Is CU really ready for Prime time? Democrat candidates easily won across the board in La Plata in this election and past elections. 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. 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. Key information is withheld from the judicial performance commissions and voters. The state commission refused to adopt a specific standard. 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,". Not Colorado. The actions of. Nevertheless, some members believed his communication skills, legal knowledge and administration were deficient. In 2017, however, the legislature changed the recommendation the commissions make to "meets performance standard" or "does not meet performance standard." Would you support our work by subscribing to The Gazette? Election Day: November 8th, 2022. 2022 Evaluations Please click on your county below to find the district and county judges, if any, standing for retention in your judicial district. The following evidence is hidden from voters, and the performance commissions, about judges: No one checks the financial disclosures filed by Colorado judges. I took the bench four months after George Floyd was murdered, when communities everywhere were calling for change. The retention process is one of the means of holding Colorado's judiciary publicly accountable, in addition to the appellate review of judges' decisions and investigations into alleged misconduct by the state's judicial discipline commission. Judges in Colorado were elected by the people until 1966. Docket management was also an issue the commission previously warned about in Davis' 2018 evaluation. If you'd like to download and print or save a pdf of this WANTED poster, please click. A:You only vote to retain the county and district court judges where you live. But other times, the law is murky and a judge makes their best effort to give an answer, only to be reversed on appeal. Lynch's 2018 evaluation also took issue with delays to his docket. Your subscription allows us to pursue time-consuming projects, such as this voter guide, as well as other issues that shape our state. As time progressed, the misinformation and hate continued and was exploited by social media users and the local Republican Party. However, the results of Colorado's retention process do not provide the complete picture of judicial performance. Judge retention elections are somewhat of a sham in Colorado. 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. However, one former district attorney is calling for more transparency . A total of 164 judges were eligible for retention in 2022, but only 140 received evaluations and 135 chose to remain on the ballot. 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. #copolitics. And this is how the whole system survives. Colorado Commissions on Judicial Performance are located in the judicial branch. I was called the wicked witch, a disgrace to the judiciary, a joke, a failure, and some called for my immediate disbarment. 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. Calling him respectful, patient and kind, the commission nonetheless warned about his docket management. By CHARLES ASHBY Charles.Ashby@gjsentinel.com. Well, thats essentially the scenario when judges are up for retention in Colorado. 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. Official account of the Colorado Republican Party. Colorado's Open Records Act does not apply to judges. And did the judge correct issues with their performance that were noted previously? A:The governor gets to appoint a new judge in the event of vacancies. Its a commission filled with conflicts of interest. We do not want the judicial branch to fail. 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. The governor's office conducts additional screening and interviewing, which results in an appointment. If we want people to change behavior, we dont get there by calling them monsters. The state commission on judicial performance destroys all records regarding previous evaluations except for the ultimate report that was written. Colorado's commissions on judicial performance are charged with providing evaluations to voters regarding judges at election time. Without the trust and confidence of the people, the judicial branch will fail. County court judges who were retained will now serve an additional term of four years. If you have any questions about the evaluations or concerns please contact us at (303) 928-7777. La Plata County is consistently Democrat-leaning. 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. Drop us a note at tips@coloradosun.com. This November, voters statewide will decide whether to retain 135 judges for terms of four to eight years. Colorado Constitution; Candidate & Voter Info. Of the 135 judges who sought to be retained by voters this year, the commissions concluded they all met the required standard of performance. They often dont understand that the state commission is limiting the information the 22 district commissions receive. #copolitics. With the limited information that the performance commissions currently receive, the retention recommendations of the performance commissions lack credibility. Oct 14, 2022 Updated Nov 4, 2022. . A: Not exactly. Lets reflect & remember the many service members and civilians who lost their lives or were injured. This year, no Supreme Court justices are up for retention. Q:How many judges this year didn't meet performance standards? If a judge is contacted by law enforcement, or receives a criminal conviction, Colorados system does its best to bury the information. We need to change the system. Proponents of the system claim a judge or two received an unfavorable recommendation and that means the entire system is working. If successful, the judge will serve for a term of four to 10 years, depending on the type of judicial appointment. Thirty-three judges had lower scores and only one of them also had an unfavorable recommendation. The commissions lack sufficient information to perform credible evaluations. Q:How do I know if a judge made bad decisions or misbehaved? It is disturbing that the state judicial performance commission has lobbied against the performance commissions receiving more information. Other states with performance commissions require public hearings. This election cycle marks the first time the appointees of Gov. Q:How do I know if someone is a good judge? Six other judges garnered at least two negative votes from their commissions. With so much information being hidden, what do the performance commissions use to do their performance evaluations? Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! Sign up for our newsletters and get the news that matters most delivered to your inbox. 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. . The ridiculously feeble and deceptive system of judicial performance evaluation reflects poorly on Colorado's judicial branch. 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. Compare that with Cindy Dang, an Adams County Court judge, who received a performance score of 59% yet received a meets performance standard recommendation. #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. Well, that's essentially the scenario when judges are up for retention in Colorado. Voting poll hours on Election Day: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Court of Appeals judges have eight-year terms, and Supreme Court justices serve for 10 years. The judicial branch is a crucial part of a democracy. Wolf reintroduction: Support endangered subspecies? "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.". 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. Schutt, who handles emotionally-charged divorce and parental rights cases, received higher-than-average marks from attorneys and non-attorneys who provided their feedback. Commission members' only specific area of concern about Schutt was the length of time she takes to issue rulings. She also exceeded the averages for her case management skills, knowledge of law, demeanor, fairness and communication. Jared Polis will appear on the ballot, including five Polis-appointed members of the Court of Appeals. Oct 11, 2022 Updated Oct 11, 2022. It doesnt always work. 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. An additional commission handles Court of Appeals judges and Supreme Court justices. None of the state's seven Supreme Court justices is up for retention this year. How did we get here? In many states, people campaign to be judges, sometimes in partisan elections. However, the performance commission raised concerns with Davis' docket management and his inconsistent application of the law. Notably, the commission received feedback that prosecutors appeared to be "directing the docket," as Fennessy would otherwise become confused. The list of judges on the ballot includes eight Court of Appeals judges who will be on all ballots statewide. Follow Colorado Sun Opinion on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Colorado's State Commission on Judicial Performance have not promoted the trust or confidence of the people. www.cologop.org | 2010-2022, Federal/Statewide/State Legislative Officials, Candidate, Campaign, and Advocacy Programs, Final GOP 22' Executive Committee Meeting. 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. You're also able to vote on judges with statewide jurisdiction, meaning the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. If the performance commissions are to work effectively, the conflicts of interest must be removed. 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. 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. The Colorado GOP This November, voters statewide will decide whether to retain 135 judges for terms of four to eight years. But Im also here to warn you about the danger of misinformation and the fear-mongering it causes. 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. 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. District court judges will receive a six-year term and Court of Appeals judges will have eight years until their next retention. Judges may opt to resign or retire prior to their retention for multiple reasons, including the expectation of a negative performance evaluation. Performance commissions may not know that a judge has been privately reprimanded, or that a report has even been made about a judge. Judges with very low performance scores are receiving favorable recommendations while a judge or two with higher scores receive an unfavorable recommendation. 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. People often dont understand that there are 23 separate performance commissions. More by Anne K. Woods, Got a story tip? Q:What happens if a judge doesn't get retained? Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. It is unseemly. Anne K. Woods 1:30 AM MST on Dec 11, 2022. Of course, he still wont do it. 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. 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. Thank you to all who sacrifice for our freedom. The latest breaking news, delivered straight to your email! Which holiday celebration do you plan to see or visit around Colorado Springs this season. 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. #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 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. It's important that judges not use their judicial position to help themselves, their family or friends. The only way to obtain a survey to comment about a judge, that can be completed confidentially, is to be sent a survey. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the 2022 Midterm General Election days away, it's important for voters to be informed. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Your ballot will also include all appellate judges standing for retention. Yes, the Republican Party will remain the pro-life party. The commission's actions fail to benefit the judiciary or the public. I hope someone else can pick up where I left off and avoid the mistakes I made that got me here. The Mesa County . The list of. Think again. I was open about my goal to reduce incarceration in favor of restorative justice and rehabilitation. 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