Fourth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Gilbert A. Martinez
Retention Year: 2010
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
Need an accessible PDF Document version?
Please click on the link below and email our staff
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by a unanimous vote of 8-0, recommends that Judge Gilbert A. Martinez BE RETAINED. Two Commissioners were absent.
Judge Martinez was appointed to the District Court, Fourth Judicial District, in 1989. After first graduating from the University of Colorado with a major in civil engineering, Judge Martinez graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1977. Judge Martinez served as Chief Judge of the district from 1994 to 2007. Judge Martinez’ volunteer activities include serving as a judge for the Mock Trial program and for Teen Court. He also serves on the board of directors of an alternative school, reads regularly to grade school students and speaks at high school career days.
Judge Martinez’ docket currently consists of family law cases and felony criminal cases. When appointed Judge Martinez was in charge of the Colorado Springs location of the Colorado Public Defenders Office. Before joining the Public Defender’s Office Judge Martinez had worked with Pikes Peak Legal Aid for approximately one year.
The Commission considered survey data and comments, an interview of Judge Martinez, courtroom observations, case management data and Judge Martinez’ self-evaluation. Judge Martinez’ strengths include the efficient manner in which he controls his courtroom and his docket. However, some survey respondents criticized what they saw as unwillingness to grant a continuance on a civil matter. Another recognized strength is that Judge Martinez works with the parties and counsel in an effort to settle family law cases. Some attorneys responding to the survey saw Judge Martinez’ demeanor as a weakness, commenting that he was abrupt or temperamental.
In an attorney survey with 60 attorneys responding Judge Martinez scored higher than the statewide average for district court judges in the areas of case management and on application of knowledge of the law. He scored slightly below average in the areas
communications and demeanor, and was rated as average on diligence. The non-attorneys surveyed rated Judge Martinez as above average in all categories; 311 people responded to that survey, including parties to cases, jurors, witnesses and victims. Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 86% recommended to retain, 12% not to retain, and 2% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 87% recommended to retain and 12% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 91% recommended to retain, 3% not to retain, and 6% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 97% recommended to retain and 3% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)