Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Robert S. Hyatt
Retention Year: 1990
Recommendation: Retain
Judicial Performance Commission’s recommendation: Should Be Retained.
Judge Hyatt, a native of St. Louis, earned an undergraduate degree in English from St. Louis University in 1972. During college and for two years following its completion, he was a television news reporter and anchorman. While attending law school at the University of Missouri, Hyatt was a member of the school’s law review editorial staff.
After Hyatt’s graduation in 1977 from the University of Missouri, he served as law clerk to the chief justice of that state’s highest court for one year. Prior to that, Hyatt worked as the director of the Missouri Supreme Court’s research staff, a Colorado assistant attorney general and as private practitioner gaining experience in civil administrative and appellate law. Hyatt is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Colorado.
Hyatt was appointed to the Denver County Court in 1984 and remained in that position until January 1988 at which time he was appointed to the Denver District Court bench. During Hyatt’s county court tenure, he was assigned to both the criminal and civil divisions.
Upon Hyatt’s appointment to the Denver District Court, he was assigned to the Criminal Division where he remained until January 1990 when he was reassigned to the Domestic Relations Division. Hyatt feels that the attributes needed in a judge are patience, intelligence, decision-making skills and willingness to work hard. He values his docket management ability which allows him to expedite cases.
Responses to questionnaires by attorneys general rated Hyatt very favorably for his knowledge of the law, compliance with the rules of evidence and procedure, his prompt, clear, and thorough rulings and decisions, his diligence and control of the courtroom. These respondents also gave Hyatt overall favorable ratings in the areas of propriety, equal treatment, regardless of race, sex or social status and impartiality. Probation personnel and court staff familiar with Hyatt likewise rated him favorably in the areas of communications skills, demeanor, courtesy, patience, firmness, decisiveness and punctuality. Nearly all of the respondents in these categories gave favorable ratings indicating Hyatt instilled public confidence, possessed good communications skills, was prepared, acted impartially, treated persons equally, was knowledgeable of the law and sentenced fairly. Where negative responses appeared from attorneys and law enforcement personnel, they focused on a need for Hyatt to be more patient and courteous and to display more compassion and to avoid favoritism. Overall, all groups rating Hyatt highly recommended his retention.