Twenty-First Judicial District - Mesa County Court Judge
Honorable Thomas Michael Deister
Retention Year: 2000
Recommendation: Retain
The Twenty-First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Thomas Michael Deister BE RETAINED.
Judge Deister graduated from the University of Denver College of Law and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1978. He practiced with the Judge Advocate General's Corp. of the U.S. Navy, engaged in private practice in Grand Junction for nine years, served with the Twenty-First Judicial District Attorney's office and was appointed to preside in the County Court of Mesa County in October, 1994.
In its evaluation of Judge Deister the commission considered surveys of attorneys and non-attorneys who had appeared before the judge conducted by Talmey-Drake Research & Strategy, Inc. The commission also considered its own observations of Judge Deister in court and an interview with the judge.
Judge Deister presides over a court that carries a heavy docket, which often includes defendants, litigants and jurors who are unfamiliar with the law. In the survey, Judge Deister received positive comments from many who felt he was patient and took time to explain the law to those who may not be familiar with the process.
He received some negative comments from attorneys who felt he was overly impatient with attorneys who were late or unprepared for proceedings.
Of the non-attorneys surveyed, 85% recommended Judge Deister be retained in office, 10% recommended he not be retained in office, and 5% had no opinion. Of the attorneys surveyed, 71% recommended Judge Deister be retained in office, 23% recommended he not be retained in office, and 6% had no opinion.