Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Martin F. Egelhoff
Retention Year: 2002
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Martin F. Egelhoff BE RETAINED.
Judge Egelhoff was appointed to the Denver District Court bench in June 1999. Prior to his appointment, Judge Egelhoff was a Chief Deputy District Attorney in Denver, and before that he was in private practice. His legal experience was primarily in the area of criminal law and procedure. Judge Egelhoff is a Denver native — his parents still reside in his boyhood home. He attended Denver Public Schools, graduating from West High School. Judge Egelhoff received his undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and his law degree from the University of Colorado. He and his wife, a lawyer, are the parents of a young boy and a young girl. Judge Egelhoff enjoys bicycling and running, and he plays the guitar and drums. Judge Egelhoff sat in a domestic relations division during his first year on the bench, and he presently hears criminal cases.
The Commission reviewed the results of a professionally conducted survey of both attorneys and non-attorneys who have been in Judge Egelhoff’s courtroom. The Commission considered statistical responses as well as written comments in response to the survey question. The Commission also took into account Judge Egelhoff’s written self-evaluation and conducted a personal interview with him.
Judge Egelhoff believes that professional and community services are an important part of his role as a judicial officer and a leader in the community. His professional activities include membership in the Marsh Inn of Court, the Colorado Bar Association’s Ethics Committee and the Colorado Supreme Court Rules of Evidence Committee. He speaks on a regular basis to students in Denver area high schools and middle schools on various issues. He has utmost regard for the integrity of the justice system and the role of the judge within that system. He believes his role is to preserve that integrity and to ensure that those involved within the system are heard and treated fairly and with dignity.
Judge Egelhoff received high ratings in all categories from both attorneys and non-attorneys responding to the survey. There were consistently positive remarks among the non-attorneys as to Judge Egelhoff’s displays of professionalism, courtesy, respect and willingness to provide explanations. However, a number of attorneys commented that Judge Egelhoff has a tendency to display impatience. Judge Egelhoff responded to this criticism in his self-evaluation, conceding that he sometimes has difficulty dealing with attorneys and litigants who are unprepared or wasteful of judicial resources. During the Commission’s personal interview with Judge Egelhoff, he indicated that it bothers him to be perceived as impatient or discourteous to anyone and that he is making positive adjustments. Of the attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 85% recommended that Judge Egelhoff be retained, 8% recommended that he not be retained and 6% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 85% recommended retention, 2% recommended non-retention and 13% had no opinion.