Eighteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable John P. Leopold
Retention Year: 1996
Recommendation: Retain
The Commission unanimously recommends that Judge John Leopold BE RETAINED.
In the nine years since Judge Leopold’s appointment to the bench, his judicial assignments have included juvenile, probate, mental health, and criminal dockets with a recent emphasis on felony complaints, notwithstanding his stated preference for civil court. Attorneys who appear before him generally hold him in high regard, giving him very high marks in his sense of justice, knowledge of the law, courtroom control and demeanor. His work ethic is applauded, and attorneys consider him to be compassionate, although some felt he entertained too many pre-trial defense motions. In those areas where some attorneys found his deficient, the number of respondents was so low the Commission considered them insignificant. Jurors who responded to the questionnaire almost unanimously deemed Judge Leopold fair, courteous, and comprehensive in explaining them their duties as jurors.