11

State CourtsState CourtsServing Colorado Serving Colorado

Our Our CourtsCourts

22

Our State Courts are BusyOur State Courts are BusyCases Filed—FY 2007Cases Filed—FY 2007

551,197 in County Courts551,197 in County Courts

189,235 in District Courts189,235 in District Courts

2,548 in the Court of 2,548 in the Court of AppealsAppeals

1,5341,534 in the Supreme in the Supreme CourtCourt

744,514 Total State Cases744,514 Total State Cases

33

How we decide who How we decide who should serve as a judgeshould serve as a judge

Adams County Courthouse

44

Colorado is one of 25 states Colorado is one of 25 states

that uses nominating that uses nominating commissions as part of the commissions as part of the

judicial selection process.judicial selection process.

55

These states These states

appointappoint judges based judges based

on on comprehensive reviewscomprehensive reviews of of applicants’ applicants’

backgrounds & qualificationsbackgrounds & qualifications. .

History ofHistory ofMerit Selection in ColoradoMerit Selection in Colorado

1940 -1940 - Bar Committee on Judicial Bar Committee on Judicial SelectionSelection

1949 -1949 - Recommendations to LegislatureRecommendations to Legislature

1954 -1954 - Denver v. Colo. Water Denver v. Colo. Water ConservancyConservancy

1958 -1958 - Legislative CouncilLegislative Council

1963 -1963 - Meeting of 100 LeadersMeeting of 100 Leaders

1966 -1966 - Amendment 3Amendment 3

66

77

Nominating CommissionsNominating CommissionsCounty and District CourtsCounty and District Courts

4 Non Lawyers

3 Lawyers

Governor

Governor

Attorney General

Chief Justice

Not more than 4 from same political party.

1 commission in each of 22 judicial districts

88

Nominating Commission Nominating Commission Considers the ApplicationsConsiders the Applications

Reviews the applicationsReviews the applications

Checks each applicant’s Checks each applicant’s

references & reputationreferences & reputation

99

Interviews theInterviews theTrial Court ApplicantsTrial Court Applicants

County & District CourtsCounty & District Courts

Non-voting chair, Assoc. Justice

1010

Nominating CommissionNominating CommissionSupreme Court & Court of AppealsSupreme Court & Court of Appeals

7 Lawyers

Not more than 8 from same political party.

8 Non Lawyers

+1 at-large

Governor

Governor

Attorney General

Chief Justice

1111

Interviews the Interviews the Appellate Court ApplicantsAppellate Court Applicants

Court of Appeals & Supreme CourtCourt of Appeals & Supreme Court

Non-voting chair,

Chief Justice

1212

The commission nominatesThe commission nominates

at least two, and at least two, and

not more than three applicants,not more than three applicants,

whose names whose names

are sent to the Governorare sent to the Governor

1313

Governor’s OfficeGovernor’s Office

Checks state and federal agency records Checks state and federal agency records to ensure no violations of law.to ensure no violations of law.

Solicits and receives information Solicits and receives information about each applicant.about each applicant.

Typically interviews each applicant.Typically interviews each applicant.

Appoints one.Appoints one.

1414

Initial Term of State JudgesInitial Term of State Judges

All state court judges must serve a All state court judges must serve a provisional term of two years.provisional term of two years.

The voters then decide whether The voters then decide whether the judge or justice continues to the judge or justice continues to

serve.serve.

1515

How we keep our courts How we keep our courts fair & impartialfair & impartial

Cheyenne County Courthouse

1616

Enforcing Rules of Conduct Enforcing Rules of Conduct Judicial Disciplinary CommissionJudicial Disciplinary Commission

4 Non Lawyers2 Lawyers

Governor

appointsChief

Justiceappoints

State Senate confirms

2 County Court Judges

2 District Court Judges

1717

How we decide whetherHow we decide whethera judge should continue to a judge should continue to

serveserve

Costilla County Courthouse

The oldest courthouse still in use in Colorado

1818

Judicial Performance CommissionJudicial Performance CommissionReviews the Performance of Every Reviews the Performance of Every

JudgeJudge

2 Non Lawyers1 Lawyer

Governor

appoints

Chief Justice

appoints

2 Non Lawyers1 Lawyer

1 Non Lawyer1 Non Lawyer

1 Lawyer 1 Lawyer

SenatePreside

ntappoint

s

House Speakerappoints

1 commission in each of 22 judicial districts

1 statewide commission for court of appeals and supreme court

1919

Our CourtsOur Courts

Select the best to serve as judges.

Ensure Compliance with

Judicial Code of Conduct

Ensure that Judges are fair & impartial

Ensure that judges conduct proceedings fairly

& apply the Rule of Law

Nominating Commissionsselect the best to serve.

Appellate courts review trial court decisions.

Judges are required to disclose their personal finances

and to recuse.

Disciplinary Commissionenforces conduct

& performance standards.

2020

Performance Commissions review the performance

of all judges.

Voters decide whether each judge

should continue to serve.

2121

Our Our CourtsCourtsServing ColoradoServing ColoradoServing JusticeServing Justice