Fourth Judicial District - El Paso County Judge
Honorable Lawrence D. Martin
Retention Year: 2018
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standard
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (8-0) agrees that El Paso County Judge Lawrence D. Martin MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Martin was appointed to the El Paso County Court bench on September 16, 1996. Judge Martin received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1976. He received his law degree in 1982 from the William Mitchell College of Law, which he attended while working full time at the St. Paul City Attorney's Office as an investigator. He worked in private practice in Colorado Springs in the areas of criminal and domestic relations law from 1984 until he was appointed a Magistrate on May 14, 1990. For a long period of time, Judge Martin served the community as a coach for Coronado High School's mock trial team and a mock trial judge.
The Commission reviewed Judge Martin's self-evaluation, a number of his written decisions, and evaluations and comments received from both attorneys and non-attorneys. The Commission found Judge Martin's evaluations to be average to above average. Specifically, attorneys found Judge Martin strong in case management, communications, demeanor and diligence. Non-attorneys were troubled by demeanor issues: how they perceive he treats or speaks to litigants in his courtroom. However, observers noted that Judge Martin is a plain talker whose rulings are clear and understandable. Attorneys and non-attorneys responded to a survey about Judge Martin. Among the 22 attorneys who responded to the survey, 90% thought Judge Martin met performance standards, and 10% thought he did not meet performance standards. Of the 35 non-attorneys who responded to the survey, 82% thought Judge Martin met performance standards, 12% thought he did not meet performance standards, and 6% had no opinion.
At his interview, Judge Martin informed the Commission that he intends to retire within the next few years. The Commission believes that Judge Martin meets performance standards and thanks Judge Martin for his distinguished public service to our community.