Ninth Judicial District - Rio Blanco Court Judge
Honorable Laurie A. Noble
Retention Year: 2008
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Ninth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Laurie A. Noble BE RETAINED.
Background: Judge Noble was appointed part-time Rio Blanco County Court Judge for Rangely in July of 1992. She was appointed part-time Rio Blanco County Court Judge for Meeker in 2005. She continues to hold both positions. Prior to 1992, Judge Noble was in private practice, practicing mainly in the areas of insurance defense and appellate work. Judge Noble is a certified foster parent and participates in charity work including fund raising for Relay for Life. Judge Noble believes "community involvement shows the human side of every judge."
The Commission reviewed surveys from district attorneys, defense attorneys, private attorneys, defendants, litigants, victims, witnesses, court staff, jurors, and law enforcement. The Commission also reviewed caseload data, Judge Noble’s self-evaluation, three written opinions issued and authored by Judge Noble, courtroom observations and interviewed her in person.
Strengths: Attorneys who responded to survey questions rated Judge Noble above average overall and specifically in the areas of communication and demeanor. Attorneys commented that Judge Noble is polite, even tempered, competent, and treats lawyers and defendants with respect and compassion. The commission found Judge Noble’s written opinions to be clear, concise, and beneficial, especially to litigants who appeared in court without lawyers.
Weaknesses: In the survey responses, Judge Noble received grades slightly below the average for other county court judges and all trial judges in her overall application and knowledge of the law, specifically in the areas of basing decisions on evidence and arguments, having knowledge of relevant and substantive law and rules of procedure and evidence and being able to identify and analyze relevant facts. The Commission encourages Judge Noble to consider and reflect on the
decreased scores from the 2006 survey results in application and knowledge of the law and the increase in perception of bias toward the prosecution and harshness in sentencing by attorneys surveyed.
Recommendation: 65% of attorneys surveyed and 90% of non-attorneys surveyed strongly recommended retention. Overall, 94% of attorneys and 92% of non-attorneys supported her retention.