Second Judicial District - Denver County Court Judge
Honorable Andrew Armatas
Retention Year: 2008
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Presiding Judge Andrew Armatas BE RETAINED.
Background: Judge Armatas was appointed to the Denver County Court bench in February 1990. Prior to his appointment, Judge Armatas was in private practice in Denver, specializing in business, family, municipal and immigration law. Judge Armatas received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and graduated from the University of Denver College of Law in 1965. In 2007 he was awarded the Denver Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award for extraordinary service or exceptional contributions to the improvement of the judicial system. Judge Armatas has been Presiding Judge of the Denver County Court for the last four years.
Judge Armatas has heard civil cases, served in traffic court, juvenile court, environmental court, criminal court, criminal advisement court, and general sessions. As the presiding judge, he is responsible for a court system with approximately 240,000 cases filed each year. As presiding judge, he assigns 17 judges and 4 magistrates to the various courtrooms. Because Judge Armatas’s job is primarily administrative, he does not spend much time in the courtroom. When he does, however, he hears first degree felony murder preliminary hearings.
To reach its decision, the Commission reviewed survey results and comments from persons who have appeared in Judge Armatas’ courtroom, including prosecuting and defense attorneys, and non-attorneys including jurors, probation officers, law enforcement officers, witnesses and defendants. The Commission also conducted a personal interview with Judge Armatas and reviewed his self evaluation.
Strengths: Judge Armatas’ strengths are in administration, his caring for his staff and the judges with whom he works and, most importantly his devotion to being a public servant and doing the best that he can to make the Denver County Court responsive to the needs of the citizens and function in a timely and fair manner with a large case load.
Recommendation: Of the attorneys responding to the survey, over 80% recommended retention. With regard to non-attorneys surveyed, 100% recommended retention.