The Colorado judicial elections consist of the general election in November.
Colorado judicial elections summary, 2012
|
| |
Supreme |
Appellate |
Trial |
| Total candidates |
1 |
6 |
83 |
| Unopposed candidates |
0 |
|
|
| Judges facing retention |
1 |
6 |
83 |
| Judges retained |
1 |
6 |
83 |
| Judges re-elected |
|
|
|
| Judges not re-elected |
|
|
|
| New judges elected |
|
|
|
| Partisan or Nonpartisan |
|
Retention |
|
|
Supreme Court
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
CoatsNathan Coats  A | Yes | 1,399,326 | 71.39%A |
Court of Appeals
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
| TaubmanDaniel Taubman A | Yes | 1,357,452 | 71.42%A |
| GrahamDennis Graham A | Yes | 1,336,261 | 69.89%A |
| MillerGale Miller A | Yes | 1,350,977 | 70.88%A |
| CaseboltJames Casebolt A | Yes | 1,391,604 | 72.64%A |
| WebbJohn Webb A | Yes | 1,359,521 | 71.63%A |
| BoorasLaurie Booras A | Yes | 1,395,803 | 72.19%A |
District Courts
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
| AppelClaude Appel A | Yes | 6,158 | 68.13%A |
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
| BartonCharles Barton A | Yes | 24,468 | 70.35%A |
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
| SwiftPattie P. Swift A | Yes | 14,974 | 77.11%A |
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
| TallmanDouglas Tallman A | Yes | 5,386 | 69.80%A |
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
| KolomitzM. Jon Kolomitz A | Yes | 8,028 | 75.39%A |
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.| Candidate | Incumbent | Retention vote: | Retention Vote % |
|---|
| PleweTodd Plewe A | Yes | 7,816 | 67.56%A |
County Courts
For information on the County Court elections, visit: Colorado judicial elections, 2012 - County Courts.
Ballot measure
Proposed
The Colorado Judicial Reform Amendment (2012) was a proposed initiated constitutional amendment. It was filed by Dennis Polhill and Douglas Campbell.
The measure sought to make a number of changes to the state judicial system, including:[1]
- Changing how judges are appointed.
- Changing how long judges can serve.
- Reducing the number of Colorado Supreme Court justices from seven to five.
- Requiring Senate confirmation hearings for appointees.
The Colorado Supreme Court Term Limit Measure (2012) was a proposed initiated constitutional amendment. It was filed by Peter Coulter.
The measure sought to make several changes to the Colorado Supreme Court, including:[2]
- Reducing terms from ten years to two years.
- Reducing the length a person can serve as Chief Justice to two years.
Neither measure made the ballot.
In the News
Judge stands for retention regardless of negative performance review
As featured in JP Election Brief: Retentions, retirements and ratings on September 20, 2012.
Judge Karla J. Hansen of the El Paso County Court still plans to stand for retention this year. She will be the only Colorado judge with a "do not retain" recommendation to stand in this years retention election. [3]
In a 7-2 vote, the State Commission on Judicial Performance decided not to recommend Judge Hansen for retention. In the survey for judicial retention Hansen scored below average in the areas of "treating parties with respect" (2.79/4) and "conducting her courtroom in a neutral manner" (2.68/4). Her overall score was 2.96/4 while the average judge scored 3.29/4. [4][3]
In her defense, Hansen wrote a letter saying,
| “
|
I have felt honored to serve the citizens of this county for eleven years. The Judicial Performance Commission has chosen not to include my overall combined survey score of 3.43, compared to an average statewide of 3.45. My survey scores are above average in the areas of work ethic, legal analysis, and efficient case management. I am a no-nonsense judge who follows the letter of the law. I incarcerate dangerous drunk drivers for the protection of the public. Attorneys and non-attorneys who have appeared in my Court recommended retention by a significant majority (72% and 93% respectively).[5][3]
|
”
|
- Read the 2012 Judicial Survey Performance Report for Karla Hasen
Colorado 2012 retention elections
As featured in JP Election Brief: 2012 Retention Elections on July 5, 2012.
The state of Colorado has used the merit selection system of judicial selection for all levels of state courts since 1967.[6] Following appointment by the governor, judges must run for retention in the next general election that occurs more than two years after they take office, and at the end of each full term thereafter.[7]
In 1988, the Colorado General Assembly created the State Commission on Judicial Performance "to provide fair, responsible and constructive evaluations of trial and appellate judges and justices" at the state level,[8] and commissions in each judicial district evaluate district and county court judges. They evaluate judges based on surveys of those who come in contact with the judicial system, and "[e]ach evaluation includes a narrative profile with a "Retain," "Do Not Retain," or "No Opinion" recommendation."[9]
This year, Justices Monica Marquez and Nathan Coats are up for retention to the Colorado Supreme Court.[10]
External links
References
- ↑ The Denver Post,"Proposed 2012 ballot measure would change Colo. judicial system," July 5, 2010
- ↑ The Denver Post,"Effort launched to reduce Colorado Supreme Court terms," December 9, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Gazette, "El Paso County judge should be ousted, reviewers say," September 16, 2012
- ↑ Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, Karla J. Hansen
- ↑ Law Weekly Colorado, "Judge Receives A ‘Do Not Retain’ Recommendation In Evaluation," August 7, 2012
- ↑ American Judicature Society, Judicial Merit Selection:Current Status, Table 1: Characteristics of merit selection plans: Scope of the plans, 2011
- ↑ Judgepedia, "Judicial selection in Colorado"
- ↑ Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, Commissions on Judicial Performance
- ↑ American Judicature Society, Methods of Judicial Selection: Colorado, "Retention Evaluation Programs"
- ↑ Justice at Stake, 2011-2012 Supreme Court Elections
