Twentieth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Andrew Hartman
Retention Year: 2016
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standard
Reports:
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The Judicial Performance Commission for the Twentieth Judicial District unanimously recommends, by a vote of 9-0, that Judge Andrew Hartman BE RETAINED. One commission member was recused.
Judge Hartman was appointed as a District Court Judge in the Twentieth Judicial District on September 2, 2013. Prior to his appointment, Judge Hartman was a partner at Gross Hartman. He was also an adjunct professor and director of experiential education at the University of Colorado Law School. Judge Hartman has previously served as general counsel for Keen, Inc., and as partner at Cooley LLP and Reed Smith LLP. Judge Hartman received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree, with honors, from Georgetown University where he served as an editor of the American Criminal Law Review. Judge Hartman was admitted to the bar in 1989.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Hartman, reviewed his self-evaluation and several opinions he authored, observed him in court, and reviewed responses to anonymous surveys sent to attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in Judge Hartman’s courtroom. The Commission also invited input from the citizens in a public hearing soliciting information about all the judges up for retention. The Commission considered all of these sources of information in reaching its recommendation. Regarding survey results, of the attorneys completing the survey, 89% recommended to retain, 5% not to retain, and 5% made no recommendation regarding retention. Of non-attorneys completing the survey, 95% recommended to retain, 1% not to retain, and 3% made no recommendation regarding retention. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.) A total of twenty attorneys and sixty-nine non-attorneys completed the judicial performance surveys regarding Judge Hartman.
In his first two-and-a-half years on the bench, Judge Hartman’s caseload has been approximately 30% civil, 25% juvenile, 25% criminal, 15% domestic relations, and 5% mental health. In our interview, Judge Hartman expressed his over-arching goals of treating everyone with respect, fairness, and the appearance of fairness. He acknowledged that he had to learn many new areas of the law with which he did not have prior experience while in private practice and that he continues to learn. The Commission appreciates Judge Hartman’s commitment to impartiality, respect, and fairness and as well as his humility in light of the responsibilities placed in the judiciary. Judge Hartman received high marks in case management, communications, and demeanor. The Commission concludes that Judge Hartman is an excellent judge and one who will continue to grow with additional experience over time.