Tenth Judicial District - Pueblo County Court Judge
Honorable Kathleen K. Hearn
Retention Year: 2006
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Tenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Kathleen K. Hearn BE RETAINED. Of the ten commission members, eight commissioners voted for retention, one commissioner abstained, and one commissioner did not participate.
Judge Hearn was appointed to the Pueblo County Court in November 1995. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Hearn was in private practice in Pueblo. She litigated primarily in the area of general civil law. Judge Hearn's case load as a judge in County Court is 94% criminal consisting of misdemeanor and traffic cases. In addition to Judge Hearn's caseload by appointment of the Chief Judge, she currently serves as the County Court presiding Judge. In that role, she serves as an administrator developing and evaluating the County Court processes and procedures.
The commission reviewed the compilation of survey information: written and verbal comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, a written self-evaluation completed by Judge Hearn and conducted a personal interview with Judge Hearn. The consensus from all sources of information is that Judge Hearn gives litigants a fair opportunity to present their case, exhibits appropriate judicial temperament, sentences criminal defendants fairly, communicates in a clear and concise manner, has a good working relationship with agencies and individuals in the judicial system, and displays an appropriate knowledge of the law. The primary area for improvement cited by attorneys, non-attorneys and Judge Hearn herself is that she needs to improve in the area of time management, in particular starting her docket on time.
Written survey results showed that ninety-seven percent (97%) of attorneys recommended retention. Ninety-one percent (91%) of the non-attorneys recommended retention.
Judge Hearn is engaged in a variety of community service agencies. She currently serves on the following boards: Sangre de Cristo Hospice and Palliative Care; the Boys and Girls Club of Pueblo County and the Lower Arkansas Valley; Girl Scouts U.S.A. Columbine Council.
Judge Hearn believes that her commitment to community service supplements her judicial role.