Colorado Court of Appeals
Honorable John Daniel Dailey
Retention Year: 2010
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The State Commission on Judicial Performance recommends 9 to 0 that Judge John Daniel Dailey BE RETAINED. One Commissioner recused. Judge Dailey was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2000. After graduating from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (cum laude), he received his law degree (summa cum laude) from Syracuse University’s College of Law. He is active in his church community.
Prior to this appointment, Judge Dailey served in increasingly responsible positions in the Colorado Attorney General’s office, beginning in 1978. Since 1994 he has periodically served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at both the University of Denver College of Law and the University of Colorado College of Law, teaching appellate advocacy. He has been a member of the Colorado Criminal Justice Commission, the Colorado Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Delay Reduction, and the Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section’s Executive Council. He currently serves on the Colorado Supreme Court’s Advisory Committees on Rules of Criminal Procedure (Chair) and Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Attorneys who responded to the survey questions indicate that, compared to the other appellate judges, Judge Dailey’s performance is somewhat stronger in writing opinions, being prepared for oral argument, and being fair and impartial. Attorneys praised his fairness, maturity on the bench, and thorough knowledge of the law. A few attorneys found Judge Dailey to be gruff or intimidating. Judges surveyed indicate his performance is somewhat stronger in the areas of writing opinions that adequately explain the basis of the Court’s opinion and making reasoned decisions based upon the law and fact. Recent courtroom observations by Commissioners found him to have a polite demeanor and a sense of humor.
Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 84% recommended to retain, 8% not to retain, and 8% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 92% recommended to retain and 8% not to retain. Of all judges surveyed, 83% recommended to retain, 1% not to retain, and 16% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 100% recommended to retain and 1% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)