Wednesday: Judgepedia's "Federal Courts, Empty Benches" Update →Michael A. O'Hara III
| Michael A. O'Hara III | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| Colorado Fourteenth Judicial District | |
| Title: | Chief Judge |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Gov. Bill Owens |
| Active: | 2003-2018 |
| Past post: | Attorney, private practice |
| Past term: | 1984-2003 |
| Personal History | |
| Bachelors: | St. Mary's Seminary |
| Law School: | University of San Diego School of Law |
| Candidate 2012: | |
| Candidate for: | Fourteenth Judicial District |
| State: | Colorado |
| Election information 2012: | |
| Incumbent: | Yes |
| Election date: | 11/6/2012 |
| Retention vote: | 16,487 |
| Retention vote %: | 77.08%  |
Michael A. O'Hara III is a judge for the Colorado Fourteenth Judicial District Court. He was appointed to this court by Gov. Owens in August of 2003. He is also the Water Judge for Division 6. [1]
Education
O'Hara graduated from St. Mary's Seminary and then received his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1984.[1]
Legal career
O'Hara began his legal career in 1984 with the small law firm of Grimes & Warwick in San Diego, California. He practiced there until 1991, when he moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There he worked as a lawyer with the same firm for eleven years, eventually becoming a managing partner. He was appointed District Court judge in 2003.[1]
Elections
2012 election
O'Hara was retained in the general election on November 6, winning 77.08% of the vote. [2]
- See also: Colorado judicial elections, 2012
Judicial performance evaluation
The Fourteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance announced its recommendations for judges up for retention in 2012. According to its website, the commission evaluates judges based on the following criteria: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and administrative performance. [3]
Criticism of process
There are critics of the state's method for evaluating judges. The most common complaint is that the evaluations are simply "rubber stamps" for judges standing for retention. To learn more about this viewpoint, read: The Denver Post, "Evaluating the performance of justices," February 15, 2010.
Judge O'Hara was recommended for retention by an unanimous vote. [4]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Official biography of Judge Michael A. O'Hara III
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, 2012 Official General Election Results
- ↑ Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, Press Release: Judge Evaluations Available on Internet August 7
- ↑ Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, Michael O'Hara
