Every day, area judges make decisions that affect people’s lives. And before every election to determine if they should be retained in office, attorneys, jurors, victims, plaintiffs, law-enforcement officers, court employees and others who have occasion to experience the court system weigh in on how the judges are doing.
On Tuesday, the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation issued the reports on 6th Judicial Court Judge Suzanne F. Carlson and La Plata County Court Judge Martha Tinsley Minot, recommending they both be retained.
The evaluations for both judges said that while their overall combined average of survey results from both attorneys and nonattorneys was below-average for all judges at their levels who will be standing for retention in the 2014 election, it was above the rating level set in the governing rules for recommending retention.
Judges are scored on a ranking of 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest. Carlson received a combined (attorneys and nonattorneys) average of 3.12. Other district judges sitting for retention this year averaged 3.50.
Carlson, who presides over criminal, domestic, juvenile, civil and probate matters in her court, has been in her current position since 2012.
Seventy-nine percent of the attorneys surveyed recommended she be retained in office, compared to 80 percent of all district judges who will be on the ballot for retention in November. Seventy percent of nonattorneys recommended she be retained, compared to 88 percent for the average of district judges.
Attorneys rated Carlson significantly above-average in being very biased in favor of the prosecution, significantly below-average on being somewhat biased in favor of the prosecution as well as being significantly somewhat biased in favor of the defense, which makes for a bit of a conundrum for people trying to figure out if she leans in either direction.
“Judge Carlson was described by many of the written comments as being fair and giving the parties appearing in her court the opportunity to be heard,” the report said.
Minot presides over civil matters involving less than $15,000, traffic and criminal misdemeanor cases and filing of criminal felony bond returns as well as presiding over two Problem Solving Courts – Adult Drug Court and Behavioral Health Court.
The participants in the survey gave Minot a combined average grade of 3.16. The average combined grade for all county judges sitting for retention is 3.43.
Eighty-four percent of nonattorneys – the average for the county judges standing for retention is 81 percent – and 74 percent of attorneys – the average is 78 percent – recommended Minot be retained.
“Comments regarding Judge Minot commended her for her diligent work in establishing and presiding in the nontraditional Problem Solving Court and her volunteer work for benefit of the judicial system,” the report said. “Judge Minot was further described in many of the written comments as being fair, treating those who appear before her with dignity and respect and exercising good control over her courtroom with the ability to handle a large docket.”
She received average or above-average grades from the nonattorneys, who tend to rank judges more highly than attorneys do, the survey said, and they almost universally regarded her as above-average for her communication skills.
While attorneys ranked her as significantly below-average in overall demeanor, overall diligence, overall case management and overall application and knowledge of law, they were evenly distributed over whether she favors the prosecution or the defense.
Both judges will be on the ballot in November to seek retention of their seats. The 6th Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommended they both be retained.
abutler@durangoherald.com
To learn more
Visit www.coloradojudicialperformance.gov to learn more about the judge evaluation process and see the complete evaluations for 6th Judicial District Judge Suzanne F. Carlson and La Plata County Court Judge Martha Tinsley Minot.
The narrative and recommendation for each judge will be included in the Blue Book, which is published by the state Legislative Council, to inform voters. The Blue Book will be mailed to voter households in the early fall.
