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State CourtsState CourtsServing Colorado Serving Colorado
Our Our CourtsCourts
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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
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How we decide who How we decide who should serve as a judgeshould serve as a judge
Adams County Courthouse
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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.
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These states These states
appointappoint judges based judges based
on on comprehensive reviewscomprehensive reviews of of applicants’ applicants’
backgrounds & qualificationsbackgrounds & qualifications. .
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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
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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
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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
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Interviews theInterviews theTrial Court ApplicantsTrial Court Applicants
County & District CourtsCounty & District Courts
Non-voting chair, Assoc. Justice
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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
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Interviews the Interviews the Appellate Court ApplicantsAppellate Court Applicants
Court of Appeals & Supreme CourtCourt of Appeals & Supreme Court
Non-voting chair,
Chief Justice
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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
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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.
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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.
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How we keep our courts How we keep our courts fair & impartialfair & impartial
Cheyenne County Courthouse
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Performance Commissions review the performance
of all judges.
Voters decide whether each judge
should continue to serve.
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Our Our CourtsCourtsServing ColoradoServing ColoradoServing JusticeServing Justice