Eighteenth Judicial District - Arapahoe County Court Judge
Honorable Ethan D. Feldman
Retention Year: 2006
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
2006 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
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The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Ethan D. Feldman BE RETAINED.
Judge Feldman believes that it is important for judges to be visible in the community and his activities outside of the courtroom have been related mainly to Colorado Bar Association and Supreme Court committee work. Judge Feldman has also spoken to groups or participated in Continuing Education programs for attorneys. Judge Feldman decides issues with fairness to all sides, respects the laws that the Legislature has passed, and does his best to follow the intent of those laws. Judge Feldman’s philosophy is that “I genuinely try to approach each day as a judge with an awareness of the great privilege which I have in being able to serve and the profound responsibility which goes with the privilege.” The Commission observed that Judge Feldman consistently applies this philosophy in his courtroom.
Judge Feldman received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1970 and his law degree from the University of Denver in 1974. He was appointed to the Arapahoe County Court on December 31, 1991. Prior to this appointment to the bench, Judge Feldman was a deputy district attorney in Arapahoe County and then entered private practice, specializing in criminal, domestic and general civil litigation. Judge Feldman presently hears misdemeanor criminal, traffic and civil cases. Additionally, Judge Feldman is presently the Presiding Judge for the Arapahoe County Courts and will also serve in that capacity next year.
The Commission conducts extensive research in making this recommendation, including use of surveys conducted on the judge, a self-evaluation written by the judge, interviews with people involved in the courtroom, and personal observations in the courtroom.
Judge Feldman exceeded all county court judges in the attorneys’ survey of his abilities and from the non-attorneys’ survey he received excellent reviews for his demeanor, fairness, communication, diligence and application of the law. Of the attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 97% recommended that Judge Feldman be retained in office. Of the non-attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 93% recommended retention.
The Commission finds that Judge Feldman is an outstanding judge and should be retained.