Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Robert S. Hyatt
Retention Year: 2002
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Robert S. Hyatt BE RETAINED.
Judge Hyatt was appointed to the Denver District Court bench in November 1987. He had previously served on the Denver County Court bench since May 1984. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Hyatt practiced law in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and in private practice, where he gained experience in civil, administrative and appellate law. Judge Hyatt received his undergraduate degree in English from St. Louis University in 1972. After graduation, he worked as a television news reporter and anchorman. Judge Hyatt attended the University of Missouri law school, graduating in 1977.
Judge Hyatt is married and has two children. He engages in both legal and non-legal activities. Judge Hyatt has lectured at the University of Denver law school, judged moot court competitions and has taught new judges for the State Court Administrator’s Office. In the non-legal arena, Judge Hyatt volunteers on a regular basis with the Denver Dumb Friends League and is a member of his children’s school board.
The Commission reviewed written evaluations of Judge Hyatt from attorneys and non-attorneys, including written comments. The Commission also considered a self-evaluation completed by Judge Hyatt and conducted a personal interview with him.
Attorneys responding to the questionnaires rated Judge Hyatt above average in areas such as courtesy towards attorneys, parties and witnesses; fairness and impartiality towards both sides; providing written rulings that are clear, thorough and well-reasoned; communicating verbally in a clear, thorough and well-reasoned manner; managing cases and his docket efficiently and with minimal delay; using court time efficiently; and knowledge of the rulesof evidence and procedure. Among the attorneys responding to the survey, 89% recommended that he be retained, 3% recommended that he not be retained and 8% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, Judge Hyatt received average to slightly below average ratings in all areas. A few of the non-attorneys criticized the judge for a lack of impartiality; discourteous and rude behavior toward the parties; and not properly applying the law to the case before him. However, of the non-attorneys, 79% recommended retention, only 7% recommended non-retention and 14% had no opinion.