Moss, Edward 2012 Evaluation

Reports:

2012 Retention Survey Report (PDF)

2011 Interim Survey Report (PDF)

2009 Interim Survey Report (PDF)

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The Seventeenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Edward Moss BE RETAINED.

Edward Moss was appointed to the District Court bench in 2004. Judge Moss began his legal career as a judicial intern at the U.S. Supreme Court and then as a Senior Law Clerk to U.S. District Judge Sherman Finesilver in Denver, Colorado. He then worked as a private practice lawyer for over 20 years, specializing in the areas of oil and gas, real estate, and general commercial litigation. He also served on the Westminster City Council and as the Mayor of Westminster. Judge Moss received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He continued his education attending Southwestern University School of Law and the Georgetown Law Center. Judge Moss presides over criminal, domestic relations, civil, and mental health cases. His current docket is 100% civil.

In arriving at their recommendation, Commission members interviewed Judge Moss personally after reviewing survey results provided by lawyers, parties, and other individuals who appeared in front of Judge Moss or otherwise observed him in court. The Commission members also reviewed Judge Moss’s self-evaluation, observed him in court, and reviewed a number of decisions rendered by the judge. The Commission believes that Judge Moss shares his expertise of the law both in and out of the courtroom. He is diligent about maintaining his ongoing education with regard to the civil legal system and attends many continuing education courses. In the courtroom, Judge Moss takes special care to ensure that pro se litigants are aware of courtroom procedure and processes that are in line with the Code of Judicial Conduct. He also is a strict enforcer of protocol to ensure that no discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, gender, or race clouds the trial process. While some may describe Moss’s diligence to formality, protocol, and precedence in the courtroom as arrogant, the Commission feels that his levels of formality are necessary to preserve the dignity of the trial process and justice to all parties involved.

The Commission reviewed survey results from attorneys that revealed Judge Moss received ratings that were slightly below the statewide average among all district judges standing for retention. Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, with a sample size of 155, 77% recommended to retain, 16% not to retain, and 7% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 83% recommended to retain and 17% not to retain. For non-attorney survey results, Judge Moss received ratings above the statewide average for district judges standing for retention. Of all non-attorneys surveyed about retention, with a sample size of 298, 92% recommended to retain, 4% not to retain, and 4% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 95% recommended to retain and 5% not to retain. Based on its review of survey results, review of several of Judge Moss’s decisions, courtroom observations, and interview of Judge Moss, the Commission unanimously recommends that Judge Edward Moss BE RETAINED.