Eighteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Gerald J. Rafferty
Retention Year: 2008
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Eighteenth Judicial District on Judicial Performance recommends by unanimous vote that Judge Gerald J. Rafferty BE RETAINED.
Background: Gerald J. Rafferty has been a District Court Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial District since 1999. After earning his Bachelor Degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1967, Judge Rafferty served in the U.S. Air Force, including four years as a pilot. From 1973 to 1977, he was a Special Agent in the FBI. In 1978 he received his Juris Doctorate degree with honors from John Marshall Law School.
Judge Rafferty was a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 1978 to 1988, and was with a Denver law firm from 1988 to 1989. In 1989, Judge Rafferty returned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In 1995, he joined the Denver District Attorney’s Office and served as a Deputy District Attorney specializing in complex criminal cases until he was appointed to the bench in 1999. While serving as a Deputy District Attorney, Judge Rafferty also taught law as an Adjunct Professor with the University of Denver College of Law.
The Commission conducts extensive research in making this recommendation, including use of surveys conducted on the judge, interviews with people involved in the courtroom, and personal observations in the courtroom, and the judge’s self-evaluation.
Recommendation: In survey results 96% of attorneys and 96% of non-attorneys recommended Judge Rafferty for retention. He is constantly improving his skills and knowledge base, particularly in the area of civil practice. As of late, he handles high profile criminal cases, frequently testing his judicial temperament. However, he was consistently applauded for his patience, overall judicial demeanor, communication, and his case management style. Judge Rafferty, with very little spare time, devotes countless hours to community service and other community involvement. The Eighteenth Judicial District is fortunate to have Judge Rafferty on
the bench. The Commission finds that Judge Rafferty is an excellent judge and should be retained.