Kramer, Gary 2018 Evaluation

Reports:
2018 Retention Survey Report
2017 Retention Survey Report

The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) agrees that Judge Gary M. Kramer MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

Judge Kramer was appointed to the bench in January 2016. Until November 2017, Judge Kramer had a domestic relations docket in Douglas County District Court. Recently, Judge Kramer volunteered to take over the entire Elbert County Court docket, including civil, probate, criminal, and mental health matters. Judge Kramer received both his undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Colorado. Prior to his appointment, Judge Kramer was in private practice focusing on complex litigation. Judge Kramer and his wife fund a scholarship at the University of Colorado Law School for students committed to public service.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Kramer, reviewed Judge Kramer’s self-evaluation as well as written decisions authored by him, made courtroom observations, reviewed comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Kramer. The Commission also received input from interested parties and considered Judge Kramer’s 2018 judicial caseload data. Judge Kramer scored higher than the statewide average of all district judges standing for retention in the areas of communications, case management, and demeanor. Among the survey questions was, "based on your responses to the previous questions related to the performance evaluation criteria, do you think Judge Kramer meets judicial performance standards?"  Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 85% answered yes, meets performance standards, 13% answered no, does not meet performance standards, and 2% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 76% answered yes, meets performance standards, 16% answered no, does not meet performance standards, and 8% had no opinion. Ninety-five attorneys and sixty-three non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys.

Judge Kramer demonstrates a strong commitment to learn new areas of law, takes on new challenges and is open to feedback from counsel appearing before him. Judge Kramer frequently meets with attorneys to discuss process improvements. A few attorneys and litigants praised Judge Kramer for his great demeanor and for making participants feel heard and treated fairly. Based on the Commission's overall evaluation, the Commission unanimously agrees that Judge Kramer meets judicial performance standards.