Seventeenth Judicial District - Adams County Court Judge
Honorable Ovid R. Beldock
Retention Year: 2000
Recommendation: Retain
Although the Seventeenth Judicial Performance Commission recommends that Judge Ovid R. Beldock BE RETAINED, a number of Commission members expressed no opinion concerning retention. The reasons for the Commission's lack of unanimity are set forth below.
Judge Beldock has served as an Adams County Court Judge since 1980. Prior to his appointment, Judge Beldock was a Deputy District Attorney in the Denver District Attorney's Office, in the practice of law, and as a Magistrate for the Seventeenth Judicial District.
Judge Beldock has been assigned to criminal cases and primarily handles traffic violations, DUIs and misdemeanor offenses. One hundred twenty-one surveys were mailed to attorneys and litigants and only 37 were returned. Of the 25 attorneys responding, 48% recommended that Judge Beldock be retained, 36% recommended that he not be retained, and 16% had no opinion. Of the 79 non-attorney surveys mailed, only 12 were returned. Seventy-five percent of the non-attorneys recommended retention, 17% recommended against retention and 8% had no opinion. Due to the small sample size, the Commission placed less importance on the survey results. However, substantial concerns concerning Judge Beldock were raised by attorneys on both sides, particularly with respect to his ability to understand and apply the law consistently.