Colorado Court of Appeals
Honorable James S. Casebolt
Retention Year: 2012
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
2012 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2011 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
2009 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The State Commission on Judicial Performance recommends by a vote of 10-0 that Judge James S. Casebolt BE RETAINED.
Judge Casebolt was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 1994. He graduated magna cum laude from The Colorado College in 1972, and received his J.D. degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1975. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, he was in private practice specializing in civil litigation in Grand Junction for 19 years. Since 2005, Judge Casebolt has served as the court’s Deputy Chief Judge. He also serves on the Judicial Advisory Council and the Supreme Court Committee on Civil Pattern Jury Instructions. Judge Casebolt is a past president of the Mesa County Bar Association, and he is also a member and past president of the Judge William E. Doyle Inn of Court. Judge Casebolt serves as a trustee and former chair of the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees Retirement Association. He is also active in the Courts in the Community program, and is a member of the Ethics Committee of Donor Alliance, a non-profit organ donation program.
Attorneys responding to survey questions indicate that Judge Casebolt’s performance is strong in the areas of writing clear opinions and refraining from reaching issues that need not be decided. His performance is otherwise generally comparable to other Court of Appeals judges standing for retention. Numerous attorneys commented on Judge Casebolt’s clarity of thought and fair-minded, conscientious approach to cases. The Commission found that Judge Casebolt is courteous and respectful during oral arguments, and that his opinions are generally clear, concise, and properly confined to the issues presented to the court. The Commission was impressed with Judge Casebolt’s open-minded approach to the cases presented to him for consideration. The responses of district judges and other appellate judges indicate that Judge Casebolt’s performance is strong in writing opinions and in being fair and impartial. Overall, the Commission found Judge Casebolt’s performance to be exemplary.
Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 78% recommended to retain, 11% not to retain, and 11% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 88% recommended to retain, and 12% not to retain. Of all judges surveyed, 88% recommended to retain, 1% not to retain, and 11% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 99% recommended to retain and 1% not to retain.