Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Ronald Michael Mullins
Retention Year: 2000
Recommendation: Retain
The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Ronald Michael Mullins BE RETAINED.
Judge Mullins was appointed to the Denver District Court bench in November 1990. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Mullins practiced in the Denver Trial Office of the Colorado State Public Defender for several years and then served in the Litigation Section of the Colorado Attorney General's Office, specializing in appellate matters and working in the Division of Hearing Officers. He also spent several years in private practice in Denver, specializing in worker's compensation, criminal and administrative law. Judge Mullins received his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University and his law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1975. Judge Mullins presently hears civil cases. He has also served in the criminal and domestic relations divisions during the past ten years.
The Commission reviewed written evaluations of Judge Mullins from attorneys and non-attorneys, including written verbatim comments attached to the evaluation questionnaires. The Commission also considered a written self-evaluation completed by Judge Mullins and conducted a personal interview with Judge Mullins.
Judge Mullins believes that it is important for a judge to be active and visible in the community. He believes that it provides the judge with an opportunity to understand the community concerns and a framework within which to make decisions. He feels it provides members of the community with an opportunity to meet judges away from the bench and to learn that judges are human beings too. Judge Mullins encourages students to visit his court and speaks with them when time permits. Judge Mullins enjoys playing golf for recreation.
Judge Mullins received high ratings from both attorneys and non-attorneys in almost every category, particularly in the areas of being courteous; treating all parties equally; communicating clearly, thoroughly and in a well-reasoned manner; maintaining proper judicial temperament; correctly applying the law; and performing with diligence, efficiency and minimal delay. Judge Mullins' ratings in the areas of written and verbal communication were somewhat lower than his ratings in other areas. Judge Mullins explained to the Commission that he believes that these ratings were the result of his making more oral rulings from the bench instead of issuing written rulings, in order to save time when he took over courtrooms in which case backlogs existed. His preference is to issue written decisions. When time does not permit this, he makes a rough outline of his decision before issuing it orally and is always available for questions to clarify his rulings. Of the attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 82% recommended that Judge Mullins be retained in office, 10% recommended that he not be retained, and 8% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 74% recommended retention, 13% recommended non-retention, and 13% had no opinion.