Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Paul A. Markson
Retention Year: 1990
Recommendation: Retain
Judicial Performance Commission’s recommendation: Should Be Retained.
Judge Markson graduated from St. John’s University in 1965, and received his law degree from the University of Colorado in 1968. He was admitted to the Colorado Bar in April 10, 1969.
Markson served in the U.S. Army as a captain in intelligence from 1968 to 1970, one year of which was in Vietnam. After his discharge, he worked as a law clerk to Justice Robert Lee in the Colorado Supreme Court, and then spent almost two years with Madden & Strate in Denver practicing civil law. In 1973, Markson joined the Denver District Attorney’s office until his judicial appointment in January 1981.
Markson is married and has 11 children, nine adopted. His home has been called a “mini United Nations.”
Since his appointment, Markson has spent one year in domestic relations, two years on the civil bench, one year as a roving judge for the statutory grand jury, and five years on the criminal bench, his current assignment.
Markson likes being a judge and enjoys the “deep human drama.” By employing innovative management techniques, he has kept on top of imposed deadlines and has reduced his caseload to the fewest cases in the criminal division. He stresses the importance of a good working relationship among the district attorneys, public defenders, and court personnel and feels his court has that working relationship.
The questionnaire responses received by the commission rated Judge Markson highly. He earned only favorable responses from the probation officers, law enforcement officers, jurors, litigants and court staff members polled. The attorneys were slightly more critical of Markson, but still rated him highly.
The questionnaires rate Markson favorably in the areas of integrity, legal ability, communications skills, preparation, attentiveness and control over proceedings, docket management, punctuality and sentencing. There were some attorney responses which indicate a lack of courtesy on Markson’s part of the past. Markson is aware of this issue and has shown a marked improvement in dealings with other participants in the judicial process over the past few years. All groups rating Markson favored retention by a high margin.