DENVER—A state panel “strongly” recommended that voters oust Jefferson County Judge Judy Archuleta in November, citing highly critical surveys from attorneys and others who appeared in her court.
Judicial performance commissions gave endorsements to 102 other judges and justices who are up for retention elections.
The recommendations, mandated by state law, were posted this week at . They include state Supreme Court justices and judges on the state Court of Appeals, district courts and county courts.
County judges must stand for retention every four years, district judges every six, state Court of Appeals judges every eight and Supreme Court justices every 10. They go through performance evaluations twice in each term.
The commission that reviewed Archuleta said attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in her court described her in questionnaires as impatient, rude, unsympathetic and belittling.
“Unfortunately, we strongly recommend that Judge Archuleta not be retained,” the commission said.
Archuletta did not immediately return a telephone message left at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
In a written response posted at the same Web site, Archuletta said she is rated high on judicial skills, knowledge of the law and case management. She blamed the negative comments on repeat DUI offenders whom she sentenced to jail, and their attorneys.
“These offenders and the attorneys that defend them purposefully rate my service poorly,” she wrote. “This small group is not unbiased and would like me not retained solely because of my sentencing philosophy.”
The commission said it did not consider information that was “obviously from unhappy defense attorneys” upset by her sentencing practices.
Each of Colorado’s 22 judicial districts has a commission that reviews judges’ performance in that district and makes recommendations on whether they should be retained. A separate commission reviews the state Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.
Each 10-member commission is appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the governor and legislative leaders. Six members must be non-attorneys.
Judges see their performance evaluations and retention recommendations before they are made public. If a judge decides not to stand for retention after seeing the recommendation, the recommendation is not disclosed.
Thirteen other judges who would have been up for retention elections this year declined to run again and will be replaced. The state doesn’t record their reasons, although one was a county judge who was elevated to district judge.
