Second Judicial District - Denver County Court Judge
Honorable Aleene Ortiz-White
Retention Year: 2000
Recommendation: Retain
The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Aleene Ortiz-White BE RETAINED.
Judge Ortiz-White was appointed to the Denver County Court bench in May 1989. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Ortiz-White was initially in private practice. She then practiced in the Denver Trial Office of the Colorado State Public Defender and later as an Assistant Denver City Attorney in the Claims Section. Her areas of specialization included personal injury and criminal defense. Judge Ortiz-White received her law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law) in 1981. Judge Ortiz-White presently hears criminal cases. She has also served in civil court and protective orders court and handled preliminary hearings during the last eleven years.
The Commission reviewed written evaluations of Judge Ortiz-White 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 Ortiz-White, including supplemental materials provided by Judge Ortiz-White, and conducted a personal interview with Judge Ortiz-White.
Judge Ortiz-White believes that it is important for her to connect with her community through activities which allow her to interact with others outside of her profession. She believes that these activities teach her much about others and about herself. She feels that she has developed a broader frame of reference over time and has been able to avoid some of the isolation toward which the judicial profession sometimes tends. Her many community activities include serving as a board member of a church; participating in activities for the Hispanic Bar Association; serving as a Mock Trial Judge at the high school level; speaking at various training and teaching events for bar associations and other legal organizations; and teaching at the Adult Learning Source. Judge Ortiz-White's judicial philosophy includes endeavoring to administer justice with an appropriate measure of mercy; remembering how much is at stake for the people impacted by her decisions; communicating with people in a manner which is respectful of the circumstances which bring them to court; keeping a balanced perspective about her role in the community; and staying accountable to the people who trust her to do what justice requires rather than what is expedient in her own eyes. For recreation, Judge Ortiz-White enjoys photography and outdoor activities.
Judge Ortiz-White received high ratings from both attorneys and non-attorneys in virtually 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. Of the attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 85% recommended that Judge Ortiz-White be retained in office, 10% recommended that she not be retained, and 5% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 71% recommended retention, 20% recommended non-retention, and 9% had no opinion.