Colorado Court of Appeals
Honorable Leonard P. Plank
Retention Year: 1998
Recommendation: Retain
The State Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Leonard P. Plank BE RETAINED.
Judge Plank was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 1988. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, he served on the Denver District Court, 1974-1988, and the Denver County Court, 1970-1974. He was an attorney for CF&I, 1968-1970, in private practice from 1965-1968, and a Deputy District Attorney in Denver, 1961-1965.
Judge Plank is the most experienced judge on the Court of Appeals, and is well respected by his peers. Over the years he has participated on and chaired numerous bar association and Supreme Court committees. He is currently the judicial representative to the Public Employee's Retirement Association Board of Trustees and on the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee. He was the first recipient of the Judicial Excellence Award given annually by the Denver Bar Association.
Believing strongly in public education about the judiciary, Judge Plank frequently speaks on law-related issues at community programs and on radio and television. He volunteers as a moot court judge for law schools, colleges and high schools. He is known for his sense of humor, which he feels has benefited him over his many years as a judge.
Attorney questionnaires received by the State Commission rate Judge Plank highly overall. He received particularly high ratings for his patience, fairness and unbiased treatment of all parties. Of the attorney responses received, 89.8% voted to retain Judge Plank and 10.2% voted not to retain him.