Fourth Judicial District - El Paso County Court Judge
Honorable Lawrence D. Martin
Retention Year: 2010
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by a unanimous vote of 9-0, recommends that Judge Lawrence D. Martin BE RETAINED. One Commissioner was absent.
Judge Martin earned his Juris Doctorate from the William Mitchell College of Law after earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Judge Martin currently coaches the Coronado High School Mock Trial Team. In addition, Judge Martin actively participates in a committee created to support and show appreciation to courthouse employees.
Prior to his appointment to the County Court bench, in August 1996, Judge Martin was in private practice, specializing in DUI, traffic and domestic cases. Judge Martin then served as a Family Law Magistrate from 1990 until he was appointed to the County Court. Since his appointment to the County Court, Judge Martin has presided over civil, traffic and misdemeanor cases. Judge Martin served one-year terms as the Presiding County Court Judge in 1998 and 2007. His assigned workload consists of misdemeanor, civil, traffic cases. Judge Martin was recommended for retention and retained by public vote in 1998, 2002, and 2006.
Judge Martin’s evaluation scores by attorneys and non-attorneys surveyed are significantly higher than the state-wide average. He was rated as a fair and neutral judge by over 80% of those surveyed, and received numerous positive comments on his judicial neutrality and compassion from both attorneys and non-attorneys. In addition, his survey scores on demeanor from both attorneys were above the statewide average for county court judges.
The Commission considered written evaluations from over 150 attorneys and non-attorneys, as well as a written self-evaluation from Judge Martin. In addition, the Commission conducted a personal interview with and courtroom observations of Judge Martin. Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 94% recommended to retain, 3% not to retain, and 3% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 97% recommended to retain, with 3% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 84% recommended to retain, 5% not to retain, and 10% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 94% recommended to retain and 6% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)