Second Judicial District - Denver County Court Judge
Honorable Claudia J. Jordan
Retention Year: 1996
Recommendation: Retain
The Judicial Performance Commission of the Second Judicial District recommends that Judge Jordan BE RETAINED.
Judge Jordan graduated from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte with a degree in Political Science in 1975 and received her law degree from the University of Colorado in 1980. After completing a judicial clerkship with Judge Morris Cole, she joined the Denver office of the Public Defender where she remained from 1982 through 1987. Between 1987 and 1994 she was in private practice with an emphasis on criminal and civil litigation. Judge Jordan was appointed to the county court in June 1994.
Judge Jordan presently hears general sessions cases regarding violations of Denver ordinances. The gender sessions courtrooms are congested and two of Judge Jordan’s highest priorities are docket efficiency while considering the individual circumstances of each party before her.
Attorney evaluations rate Judge Jordan highly in all categories though concern was expressed form a minority of attorney respondents in the categories of courteousness and appropriate demeanor. Judge Jordan has received criticism from some law enforcement personnel who question her sense of fairness and justice. Overall, the Commission finds that Judge Jordan’s two year record on the bench shows good performance.
Written survey results showed that 90.9% of attorneys and 23.1% of law enforcement favored retention; 76.9% of law enforcement personnel favored non-retention; and 9.1% of attorney had no opinion.