Casias, Edward 2016 Evaluation

Reports: 

2016 Retention Survey Report (PDF) 

2015 Interim Survey Report (PDF)

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The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends 9-0, with one member absent that Judge Edward Jude Casias BE RETAINED.

Judge Casias was appointed to the Summit County Court in September, 2000.  A fifth generation Colorado native, Judge Casias received his undergraduate degree from Colorado College before receiving his law degree from Ohio State College of Law.  His legal career quickly turned to prosecution and public service as Judge Casias began working as a Deputy District Attorney in the Fourth and Ninth Judicial Districts, and finally as the Assistant District Attorney in the Fifth Judicial District in Summit County before being appointed to the bench.  Judge Casias is exceptionally active in the community, volunteering his time with the Summit Foundation, the Summit Community Care Clinic, Mountain Mentors, Optimists Club, and additionally Judge Casias has volunteered as a coach and instructor for a number of athletic and academic activities benefiting children.  The Commission applauds Judge Casias’ commitment to his community and specifically his focus on helping local youth. 

The Commission interviewed Judge Casias, reviewed written evaluations of Judge Casias from attorneys and non-attorneys, reviewed his written self-evaluation, sampled Judge Casias’ legal rulings, observed Judge Casias in the courtroom, and received input from the District Attorney, the Public Defender, law enforcement, the Chief Judge along with other general members of the public.  Of attorneys completing the survey 94% recommended to retain and 6% not to retain.  Of non-attorneys completing the survey 95% recommended to retain and 5% not to retain.  Of all jurors surveyed, 100% recommended that Judge Casias be retained.  (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)

Judge Casias is highly valued by both attorneys and non-attorneys for his performance on the bench, and they have rated him higher in every category on the survey, than the average ratings for other county judges standing for retention across the state.  He is perceived as being patient, compassionate, caring, and treats parties with dignity and concern for the circumstances that have brought them to appear before him.  In addition to handling traffic, misdemeanor  and civil cases, Judge Casias also accepts pleas and imposes sentences in some felony cases.  Overall, he received high survey marks and favorable comments, reflective of how valued he is by the members of the community appearing before him.  Judge Casias has demonstrated his willingness to address the ever changing nature of his docket by instituting new pre-trial conference policies and by adding additional jury trial dates as needed.  To that end, he is willing to adjust Court procedures to maintain the efficiency of his Court.