Second Judicial District - Denver County Court Judge
Honorable Claudia J. Jordan
Retention Year: 2004
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Claudia J. Jordan BE RETAINED.
Judge Jordan was appointed to the Denver County Court bench in 1994. In the five years immediately prior to her appointment, she was a deputy state public defender. Before that she was in private practice, specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation. Judge Jordan received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte, and her law degree from the University of Colorado.
Judge Jordan grew up in North Carolina, where she attended segregated schools until the 10th grade. Her upbringing instilled in her a desire to make a difference in people's lives. Accordingly, in addition to performing her judicial duties, she speaks regularly at schools, churches and other community gathering places promoting and encouraging achievement.
Currently, Judge Jordan presides in criminal court, handling misdemeanors. Several thousand cases are filed in her court each year. Many, if not most, of the defendants appear without a lawyer. In such cases, Judge Jordan must explain the process to the defendants.
To assess Judge Jordan's performance, the Commission reviewed the statistical results of questionnaires completed by lawyers and non-lawyers who have appeared in her court, as well as written comments from those individuals. The Commission also interviewed Judge Jordan and considered a self-evaluation she completed.
The statistical ratings from attorneys were generally slightly below the averages for Denver County Court judges and all rated judges state-wide; however, ratings from non-attorneys were generally very close to those averages. Seventy-two percent of attorneys surveyed
recommended that Judge Jordan be retained, while 28% recommended that she not be retained. Eighty percent of non-attorneys surveyed recommended that Judge Jordan be retained, and 20% recommended that she not be retained.