Eleventh Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Stephen A. Groome
Retention Year: 2010
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Eleventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, based on Judge Groome’s agreement to be placed on a professional improvement plan, by a vote of 5 to retain and 3 to not retain (1 recused and 1 absent), recommends that Judge Stephen A. Groome BE RETAINED.
Judge Groome was appointed to the District Court in 2007. Before his appointment to the Court, Judge Groome was the County Attorney for Park County for four and one-half years. Prior to that he was in private practice for 15 years with an emphasis in real estate, business, and estate law. Prior to moving to Colorado, Judge Groome practiced law for 10 years in California. Judge Groome is currently a member of the board of directors for Boys and Girls Club of Park County. Judge Groome graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles.
To arrive at this recommendation, the Commission observed Judge Groome in the courtroom, reviewed his self-evaluation and a survey of the people who appeared in his courtroom, then held two personal interviews.
Survey results for Judge Groome were mixed. Some respondents described him as fair and compassionate, and that he makes an effort to make people feel comfortable in the courtroom. Other respondents mentioned that Judge Groome made some inappropriate comments in the courtroom, which were also observed by some of the Commissioners during their observation of the Judge. While the Commissioners did ultimately vote to retain Judge Groome, the problems with his demeanor and procedural issues remain a concern of the Commission.
Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 74% recommended to retain, 22% not to retain, and 4% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 77% recommended to retain and 23% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 85% recommended to retain, 9% not to retain, and 7% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 91% recommended to retain and 9% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.) By a vote of 5 to retain and 3 to not retain (1 recused and 1 absent), the Commission recommends that Judge Stephen A. Groome be retained.